February 4 | Isabelle Panza
According to the Long Island Coalition for the Homeless, more than 6,000 individuals and families on Long Island are without a place to call home. That means 6,000 of our neighbors are forced to navigate life without the stability, safety, and dignity that a home provides.
Homelessness isn’t just about lacking a roof—it’s about surviving each day against the odds. It means exposure to extreme weather, the risk of illness from unsanitary conditions, and a constant struggle to access food and clean water. For children, it means uprooted lives—moving from shelters to relatives’ homes and, at times, sleeping on the streets.
There is no single cause of homelessness. Many working people in New York, where the cost of living is among the highest in the nation, cannot afford housing while also covering essentials like food, clothing, and transportation. Others face mental health challenges that have gone untreated, sometimes leading to substance use.
Too often, society reduces homelessness to stereotypes. But at Long Island Cares, we are not here to judge. We are here to help. That’s why Hope for the Homeless, our mobile outreach program, is dedicated to serving the unique needs of unhoused individuals. The program provides housing information, referrals, ready-to-eat emergency food, and personal hygiene items to those in need. In 2024 alone, Long Island Cares served 3,272 homeless individuals, distributing over 19,458 pounds of food.
Hope for the Homeless is more than a program—it’s a promise that no one should be forgotten. By providing essential resources with compassion and respect, Long Island Cares is working to bring stability and dignity to those experiencing homelessness.