A new film, No Address, is sparking national conversations about homelessness, particularly in states like New York, where the crisis has reached alarming levels. The film takes a personal and emotional look at individuals from different backgrounds who find themselves without a home due to circumstances beyond their control.

According to a recent report released by New York State, homelessness in the state has surged by over 100% from 2022 to 2024. In 2024 alone, approximately 158,000 New Yorkers experienced homelessness, with children making up nearly a third of that population. Experts cite a combination of factors fueling the crisis, including a lack of affordable housing, rising rent prices, eviction proceedings, and an influx of asylum seekers.

The situation is particularly dire in New York City, where nearly 90,000 individuals, many of them families with young children, are currently housed in shelters. On Tuesday, Mayor Eric Adams announced that over 50 migrant shelters will close by June, adding urgency to the growing crisis.

No Address aims to illuminate these struggles by portraying the real-life hardships that lead people to homelessness. The film’s stars, including Grammy-winning singer Ashanti and actor William Baldwin, recently spoke about their involvement in the project and the importance of raising awareness.

“It just recognizes this global crisis of homelessness and mental health,” Ashanti said in an interview. “I wanted to put my hands on this and bring it to life to create awareness. This is an amazing platform to be able to have us here talking about this huge crisis and what we can do to change it.”

Baldwin echoed those sentiments, emphasizing how quickly homelessness can happen to anyone.

“One of the taglines of the movie is that ‘homelessness can happen to anyone,’” Baldwin explained. “We clearly exemplify the different paths—whether it’s a veteran who becomes addicted, someone in a mental health crisis, a foster child aging out of the system, or a family overwhelmed by debt. You could go from living paycheck to paycheck to sleeping in your car in an alleyway. The social messaging of this film is something very important to us in raising awareness and compassion.”

In addition to raising awareness, No Address is also taking action. The film’s creators announced that 50% of its net profits will be donated to organizations and churches working to combat homelessness.

New York State has launched initiatives to address the crisis, including a $25 billion housing plan aimed at creating or preserving 100,000 affordable homes. However, advocates argue that more must be done, with State Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli stressing the need for increased housing assistance and legal aid for low-income families facing eviction.

No Address will be released in theaters on February 28.