In response to the cold weather, Mayor Zohran Mamdani has introduced a plan to support homeless New Yorkers during low temperatures. Announced yesterday, the measures expand city programs that provide safe, heated spaces for those in need. According to an official City of New York statement, the plan includes additional hotel rooms for shelter, more warming centers, and increased street outreach.
The cold snap, expected to be the season’s most severe, has led the city to add about 60 new hotel rooms to its shelter system, providing an alternative to traditional communal shelters. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) reported that shelter placements doubled from Thursday to yesterday. Mayor Mamdani stated that the city’s efforts will continue as cold conditions persist.
New Yorkers who observe someone in distress from the cold are encouraged to contact 311, through which outreach workers, the FDNY, and the NYPD can be dispatched to provide assistance. Mayor Mamdani also advised individuals staying outdoors to seek shelter because of the risks associated with the dropping temperatures.
During the weekend from Thursday to yesterday, the city opened multiple temporary warming sites, including 10 NYC public schools, facilities partnered with Northwell and CUNY, and two Overdose Prevention Centers. In total, 62 warming centers and vehicles were operational, with mobile warming units increasing from 27 to 33. Over 50 school nurses were trained to support DHS outreach workers, and the Crisis Management System, a group of neighborhood-based violence interrupters, assisted with street outreach. The city is also piloting a peer outreach model that pairs formerly homeless New Yorkers with outreach teams to connect directly with individuals still living on the streets.
Mayor Mamdani’s administration has stated that no New Yorker seeking shelter will be turned away. With Code Blue protocols in effect, outreach efforts have been increased and intake procedures adjusted to improve accessibility.
