In the first three quarters of 2024, it cost the city $3.5 million to conduct homeless encampment sweeps across the city.

City Councilmember Sandy Nurse says new data from the administration shows the money could be put to better use.

“We have hundreds of supportive housing units that are vacant. We could be doing a lot more to move people directly from the street into a housing unit with keys, and then providing the wraparound services they need to stay there,” Nurse said.

From January to September, there were roughly 2,300 encampment sweeps.

During these sweeps, representatives from the Department of Homeless Services and outreach teams offer shelter placements, among other resources.

However, data shows only 3% of people went into transitional housing. No one was placed in permanent housing.

“They’re currently not offering them permanent housing right away. Most people do not want to move into open congregate settings. They don’t want to be in a shelter system. It’s unsafe, they don’t feel protected,” Nurse said.

The annual Hope Survey estimates 4,100 people were living on the city streets in 2024.

"Discouraging New Yorkers in need from accepting shelter, and the housing assistance that comes with it, is irresponsible fearmongering and a disservice to New Yorkers," City Hall spokesperson William Fowler wrote in a statement to NY1 in response to Nurse. "Let's be clear on the facts: violent incidences in shelters are down, exits from shelter into permanent housing are up, and 97 percent of homeless New Yorkers are already in shelter - more than any other major city in the country."

On Monday at a news briefing, Mayor Eric Adams called the efforts to get homeless people off the streets a success.

“It really blows my mind that people don’t see the difference between our city and other cities. We don’t have those shanty towns in our city,” Adams said.

The mayor says the report does not fairly account for what happens following a sweep, and he says it can take multiple times to get a person into transitional housing.

“It takes a while to build up that trust. Sometimes people do it the next day. Sometimes people get the notice that [the encampments] was going to come down and they get the help and they go into shelter,” Adams said.

In his State of the City address, the mayor announced $650 million to address homelessness.

But instead of continuing to implement sweeps, Nurse says there should be an increase in supportive housing.

“Homelessness is only solved when you put people in homes. It’s a very simple equation,” she said.

Advocates say the Housing First model removes barriers for people to get into permanent housing.

The comptroller’s office says 70% to 90% of Housing First participants remain housed stably for two to three years after receiving services. That’s compared to 30% to 50% of people who remain stably housed after completing a “treatment first” program.