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Protecting Homeless New Yorkers and Ending the Statewide Housing Crisis: An Emergency Response Plan

January 30, 2026

For over 25 years VOCAL-NY has fought to end homelessness. Policy experts, lawyers, service providers, and New Yorkers with direct experience with homelessness have called upon city and state governments to make critical investments, and enact proven public policy. While we have seen some positive steps forward over the years, overall there is  a lack of political leadership to actually end the housing and homeless crisis, especially coming out of Albany.

The result: New York has become complacent to the homeless crisis and would rather see people die on the street than take political action to address the root causes. The recent deaths of homeless New Yorkers during Storm Fern should be added to a much longer list of those who have died, and those who have lived without housing — or even shelter — across our state. 

Despite this, Governor Hochul’s most recent Executive Budget fails to mention homelessness or how to address the immediate housing crisis. The Governor touts tens of billions in state budget surplus, but so far has failed to commit the resources that our state needs — including investments to cities and counties — to address this crisis. Mayors across New York must also act, but with the state’s ability to tax and spend, Governor Hochul and the executive branch serve an essential role in addressing homelessness across all municipalities. As a movement of New Yorkers hit hardest by government inaction, VOCAL-NY calls for the following action to prevent more homelessness New Yorkers from dying preventable deaths.

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