Travelers arriving at John F Kennedy International Airport are encountering an unexpected welcome to America’s most visited city: groups of homeless individuals camped throughout the public transportation hub connecting the airport to Manhattan.
The homeless presence has become particularly visible at the AirTrain station in Jamaica, Queens, which serves as the primary budget-friendly transit option for passengers seeking to reach the city center.
While taxi and ride-share services from JFK cost approximately $100, the AirTrain offers an $8.50 alternative with connections to the subway system and other public transit.
Dozens of individuals experiencing homelessness have made the transit station their temporary residence, according to observations and interviews conducted at the facility.
A Metropolitan Transit Authority employee working at the terminal reported witnessing a steady increase in the number of people staying at the station over recent years.
The Daily Mail highlighted that the employee pointed to insufficient safe shelter capacity throughout the city as the primary driver, with many individuals choosing the station as a place to escape harsh weather conditions.
The situation intensifies during winter months when temperatures frequently plunge below freezing in the metropolitan area.
Even during milder weather periods, the homeless population remains visible at the location.
On a January day with temperatures around 50 degrees Fahrenheit, multiple individuals were observed inside the compact AirTrain facility, with additional people congregating outside the structure.
Irving Ruiz, a Queens resident who travels through JFK approximately three times annually, described the homeless presence as a consistent feature of the terminal.
He noted to the Daily Mail that the population appears most concentrated during winter and daytime hours when security presence diminishes.
“It’s the first sight for tourists,” Ruiz said.
“Let’s say they’re coming from… a nice country, and they’ll see them here. It’s not a good look for the city.”
Ruiz advocated for increased municipal attention and resource allocation to assist and relocate the homeless population from the transportation hub.
Aishik Deb, an Indian student attending Stony Brook University, echoed concerns about the situation.
“I think they are here because they have nowhere else to go in the first place,” Deb said. “So I think the city should definitely do something.”
Brooklyn resident Shannon Ferguson, traveling with her family to Australia, expressed sympathy for individuals residing in the station.
“Anyone could be a couple of paychecks away from being homeless,” she said.
Ferguson observed that many homeless individuals carried substantial personal belongings, which likely prevented them from utilizing shelter facilities.
“A lot of the shelters are dangerous, and they have really stringent rules where you can’t bring in all of your belongings,” she explained.
“I just wish it was easier to get services that are actually helpful to people,” Ferguson added. “It bothers me that people can’t afford to live in the city and have a place to be.”
Interviewed travelers unanimously agreed that while they did not feel personally threatened or uncomfortable, the homeless presence creates an unfavorable initial impression for visitors and warrants greater intervention efforts.
The situation underscores New York City’s position as home to the nation’s largest homeless population.
New York City operates under a legal Right to Shelter mandate requiring the provision of safe accommodations for anyone experiencing homelessness. However, shelters face ongoing challenges with overcrowding and criminal activity, prompting many to seek alternative arrangements in public spaces including the AirTrain station.
Travelers expressed optimism that newly installed socialist mayor Zohran Mamdani would address the crisis.
During his initial week in office, Mamdani rescinded emergency orders implemented by former mayor Eric Adams that had suspended certain Right to Shelter requirements amid an influx of applicants during the migrant housing crisis.
Mamdani subsequently issued an executive order directing city officials to create a 45-day plan for bringing shelters into compliance with health and safety standards.
The mayor has committed to expanding homeless outreach and assisting residents in navigating housing options through a newly established department of community safety, including dedicated outreach workers in subway stations.
Whether this initiative extends to the AirTrain station remains unconfirmed.
The Daily Mail further outlined that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which oversees JFK and the AirTrain system, released a statement acknowledging the challenge.
“The Port Authority works in close coordination with the MTA and other partners to maintain a safe, orderly, and welcoming environment for travelers and the surrounding community,” the agency stated.
“But we are not immune from the conditions facing unhoused throughout the region, especially in winter, which sometimes result in suboptimal situations in Jamaica Station,” the statement continued.
The Port Authority noted that Police Department personnel maintain 24/7 assignments at the JFK AirTrain section of Jamaica Station and enforce rules prohibiting station use for non-transportation purposes.
“PAPD also conducts regular outreach in conjunction with service providers, including Urban Pathways, to offer assistance and connect unhoused individuals with shelter, social services, and medical or mental health care as appropriate,” the agency added.
