Mayor faces backlash over skyrocketing homelessness crisis

In a recent government meeting, officials discussed the alarming rise in homelessness in Broome County, attributing the increase to policy failures over the past decade. Council members highlighted that since Mayor Kramm took office, homelessness has surged by approximately 20%, affecting over 2,700 individuals, including 450 families and more than 300 school-age children in the Binghamton City School District.

The statistics revealed a staggering 72% increase in homelessness among families with children since 2021. Furthermore, the unsheltered homeless population has seen a dramatic 542% rise over the last ten years, coinciding with the development of downtown housing and a shift towards student accommodations. This trend has resulted in a significant loss of affordable housing stock, raising concerns about the adequacy of current policies.

Council members criticized the mayor's claims that proposed legislation would lead to more encampments, asserting that such assertions lack a factual basis. They emphasized that the legislation does not permit encampments in schools, public parks, or libraries, and reaffirmed that private property owners retain their rights under the new measures.

The discussions underscored the urgent need for effective strategies to address homelessness and the preservation of affordable housing in the region, as officials called for a reevaluation of past policies that have contributed to the crisis.