New York Faces 18 Cold‑Related Deaths in Recent Winter

The city’s winter has taken a heavy toll, with 18 residents losing their lives to the harsh cold. City officials have reacted strongly, calling for more help and tighter oversight of outreach efforts. The mayor has pledged to keep families in mind while criticizing the current approach to homeless encampments. She says none of those who died were found in a shelter or living on the streets, but critics still question the strategy. A city council hearing is set for Tuesday where officials will explain why they stopped moving people out of camps. The meeting will focus on how to prevent more deaths and whether the city’s policies need changing. To protect people, the department has increased street teams and asked residents to report anyone stuck outside.Since January 19, about 1, 400 people have been placed in shelters or safe houses. The city has also moved 33 individuals to hospitals during the Code Blue warning. Medical examiners say that most of the first five deaths were caused by hypothermia, with alcohol and drugs adding to the risk. Three of those cases involved drug overdoses; methamphetamines were a factor in one more. Further autopsies are still pending for the other thirteen deaths, but the mayor notes that some were overdose related. Looking back, last year 29 people died from extreme cold, and in earlier years the numbers were 52 in 2022 and 34 in 2021. In 2018, a similarly severe winter claimed 21 lives. The city’s response shows both effort and debate about the best way to keep its most vulnerable residents safe during brutal weather.