Homeless and Addicted in New York City

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This blog post will discuss addiction among the homeless population of New York City, its most susceptible victims and the available resources.

How Do The Homeless Become Addicted in New York City? 

Even the most fortunate people in our society need to unwind, maybe even escape, from the harsh reality of day-to-day living. Depending on your interests, one may find escape through the arts, sports and physical activities, socializing with friends and family, or any of a myriad of ways. Though we should stress that not anywhere near every homeless person uses narcotics or other intoxicating substances, many use them to escape their daily pain much as their more fortunate counterparts would do by watching a favorite movie or playing a neighborhood game of football. 

How Common Is Drug Addiction Among the Homeless Population in New York? 

The exact numbers will never be known due to the secretive nature of addiction and how little attention these twin cohorts receive from the general public. However, most research shows that around one-third of homeless individuals struggle with either alcohol dependency or a substance use disorder. [1] These diseases may predate homelessness and continue to plague a person long after they’ve obtained safe, reliable housing. 

Which Homeless People Are Most Susceptible To Addiction? 

Even among the housed, everyone responds differently to stress and trauma. Indeed, if left untreated, the latter can lead to both homelessness and substance abuse. According to data compiled by AddictionHelp.com, some of the most vulnerable populations include:

• Veterans and First Responders 
• Teenagers and Young Adults 
• Women 
• Those in the LGBTQ+ community 
• Indigenous groups 
• People of color 

Members of these groups, especially those that overlap, often have long, sometimes generational stressors and traumas, which, due to discrimination and systemic inadequacies, are frequently left to metastasize into homelessness and/or addiction. 

How Do We Help The Homeless and Addicted? 

On a more personal level, we could start by recognizing this population’s humanity, treating them with kindness and compassion and without judgment. Doing so indicates to these individuals that someone cares about them and wants them to succeed. This may not sound like much, but kindness and compassion improve recipients’ self-esteem and self-worth, enhancing their chances of recovery. 

Throughout these blog posts, we have stressed the importance of a housing first approach. Having a safe, reliable place to go to alleviates some of our most basic fears, i.e. having sufficient food, water and shelter to survive. In addition to these benefits, stable housing facilitates treatment, which is critical to preventing recurrence and/or relapse. 

If you or someone you know is unhoused and struggling with substance use, please avail yourself of these free resources: 

• NYS Office of Addiction Services and Support - Permanent Supportive Housing
• NYC Health - Alcohol and Drug Use Services 
• Coalition for the Homeless
• 311 
• Community Access - Housing

Mentor A Promise and its network of partner organizations are also available to help you navigate these and other challenges related to the homelessness crisis. 

Contact Mentor A Promise Today 

Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness.