Addressing Hunger and Homelessness in New York City
November is Homelessness Awareness Month, and November 17-23 is Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week. Our Urban Farms are helping to combat food insecurity and support people experiencing homelessness. Meet the changemakers of our Urban Farms program, including Director of Urban Farms Wilfredo Illa, Urban Farms Program Coordinator Jenny Khoeut, and people served who are Urban Farmers — Rhonda, Hector, and Valerie, by watching the video below.
As we all know, food insecurity is skyrocketing. According to the True Cost of Living Report, 50% of working households in New York City are struggling to make ends meet. More than one million New Yorkers earn less than they need for basic needs. Almost 61% of low-income households with children reported experiencing food insecurity.
In recent years, homelessness in New York City has reached the highest levels since the Great Depression of the 1930s. In July 2025, 104,052 people slept each night in NYC shelters. Thousands more slept unsheltered in public spaces, and more than 200,000 people slept temporarily doubled up in the homes of others. Thus, more than 350,000 people were without homes in NYC in July 2025.
S:US is at the forefront of both hunger and homelessness. Last year, Urban Farms grew an estimated 12,200 pounds of vegetables, fruits, herbs, and honey from our farm and garden network. We have 98 growing spaces in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, and the Bronx, including eight community farms.
In 2022, we launched our Community Fridge Program. Our Community Fridges offer free food and non-perishable items to neighbors in need at five locations in Brooklyn and the Bronx.
At S:US, we also operate shelters for homeless individuals and families, for people living with HIV/AIDS, for individuals with mental health challenges, and for families experiencing domestic violence. S:US also operates HomeBase, a homeless prevention community resource center.
