According to the annual Point in Time count which takes a census of homeless people on a day in January each year, the number of homeless people has grown between 2014 and 2024. The number of severely mentally ill people and individuals with substance use disorder have also increased in the homeless population over the last few years.
“Ulster County is in the midst of a deepening housing crisis, and these numbers are stark,” said Ulster County Comptroller March Gallagher. “The cost of emergency shelter has more than tripled in just four years, and Ulster County taxpayers bear nearly half the burden. This trajectory is not sustainable—either financially or socially. The abrupt closure of Samadhi, which served as a key emergency placement option, has forced an immediate scramble for shelter and underscores the fragile patchwork of resources we’re relying on. While many efforts to expand affordable and supportive housing are underway, the pace of implementation must match the scale of the crisis. Knowing the full extent of the need is only the first step—swift, coordinated, and accountable action must follow. The Comptroller’s Office will continue to provide transparency and oversight through the implementation of these housing programs and projects.”