The state of people experiencing homelessness and the lack of available stable housing

As the challenges for nonprofits that serve people experiencing homelessness continue — we reflect on the state of the lives of individuals. The following is influenced by recent reporting from The New York Times. While the geographical focus is NYC — the challenges reflect communities across the country.

The state of today:

Before dawn, a young woman leaves her homeless shelter and walks to her job miles away. Her $22-an-hour wage doesn’t cover her city’s-high rents. She’s one of thousands of working New Yorkers living in shelters — line cooks, teachers, cab drivers, Target stockers, and even city employees — priced out of their hometown.

Nearly a third of families in NYC shelters include at least one working adult. Some earn up to $50,000 a year but still can’t afford rent. Vouchers meant to help often require them to reduce their income to qualify, forcing an impossible choice between working more and staying housed. The state of the “working poor” and the national housing crisis. exists in places as diverse as Cincinnati and Frisco, Colorado. Frisco (Summit County) was recently highlighted in The Washington Post.

This crisis isn’t just about housing — it’s about health, dignity, and survival.

What happens at the Center:

At The Center for Respite Care, we see firsthand how fragile the line is between stability and crisis. Many of the individuals we serve are discharged from hospitals with nowhere safe to heal. They are often dealing with illness, injury, or chronic conditions — made worse by the stress of homelessness and the impossibility of rest and recovery on the streets or in shelters.

People can’t heal without housing. We provide medical recovery and supportive services, but what every person ultimately needs are a safe, stable place to live. At the Center, once individuals are discharged — we endeavor to provide a smooth transition to stable housing and employment.

Our care and facility is a critical bridge — a place for people to recover, regroup, and begin to rebuild. But these are stopgaps, not solutions.

At The Center for Respite Care, more than 80% of clients transition to stable housing or long-term care after their stay. But the demand is growing — and the systems meant to catch people are failing to keep up.

As one shelter resident put it: “Poor people make this city go.” Yet too many are being pushed aside, caught in systems that don’t work together.

Housing is healthcare. Until cities confront the full picture — wages, housing, health, and recovery — the cycle will continue. And the workers who hold our communities together will keep slipping through the cracks.

What You Can Do:

This crisis may feel overwhelming, but there are meaningful ways to make a difference:

• Support organizations doing the work. Groups like The Center for Respite Care provide critical medical and housing support for people in vulnerable moments. Your donation can help someone transition from homelessness to healing and stability.
• Advocate for change. Contact your local representatives and urge them to support policies that expand access to affordable housing, improve voucher programs, and strengthen support systems for working families.
• Challenge the stigma. Talk about homelessness with compassion. Many who are unhoused are working hard — often at the very jobs that keep our city running — and simply can’t afford a place to live.
• Spread the word. Share this story. Raising awareness helps build the political and social will to address the root causes of homelessness, not just its symptoms.