The Homeless Outreach Population Estimate, also known as the HOPE count, is an annual survey that aims to help city officials understand the needs facing homeless New Yorkers. The survey also provides the annual count of homeless individuals living on streets and subways.
This year’s count saw the return of volunteers who had previously been scrapped amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I feel like this is such a huge problem that every little thing that we can do to try and figure out how to solve it is a step in the right direction,” Nancy Gleason, who brought her daughter to the event, said.
Ahead of volunteer teams being deployed across the city, Mayor Eric Adams recounted his own experience with poverty.
“When we were growing up and we were carrying garbage bags full of clothing to school every day because mommy thought we were gonig to be thrown out, people helped us. Salvation Army used to cook meals for our family,” Adams said while talking to volunteers on Tuesday ahead of the official count.
For the first time since the pandemic, volunteers were able to once again join us for our annual Homeless Outreach Population Estimate survey.
— NYC Mayor's Office (@NYCMayorsOffice) January 25, 2023
New Yorkers took to the streets and subways to help us ensure our vulnerable neighbors are not left behind. pic.twitter.com/PJf8nyrenp
City officials say the goal of the night was to help as many struggling New Yorkers as possible.
“We’re gonna just really be out there, on the subways, in the streets, really engaging unsheltered individuals and hopefully bringing them inside after we earn their trust. Let them come in so we can serve them with care and compassion,” the commissioner of the city’s Department of Social Services, Gary Jenkins, said.
City officials expect to release results of the survey later this year.
Volunteers were out until 4 a.m. on Wednesday morning conducting the survey.