SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY—While the number of families placed in emergency housing in Hotels/Motels has decreased in Sullivan County, the length of stay has increased, according to a new study released from non-profit Patterns for Progress.

Despite Sullivan County being a significantly less populated county than Dutchess and Orange the number of individuals and couples without children placed in hotels and motels are higher in Sullivan County than in Dutchess and Orange. Sullivan does not have a single homeless shelter.

Since 2018, in Sullivan, while there has been a 31% decrease in the number of families placed in hotels and motels, the length of stay for families has increased by 75%. A decrease of 16% among the number of adult-only households placed in hotels and motels is accompanied by a 90% increase in length of stay. 

Orange (233), Dutchess (151), Ulster (120), and Sullivan (84) have the greatest quantity of school children living in hotels and motels of the nine counties in the Hudson Valley.

From 2009-2023, the number of children in public and charter schools in the Hudson Valley declined by 36,859. Homelessness grew by 2,736 students during that time.