Homeless New Yorkers do not want to go to shelters, despite the huge spending of the authorities on their maintenance

According to the survey, 200 homeless New Yorkers, most of whom have already been in shelters, do not want to return there. Despite the fact that the city spends up to $ 1 million per day on their maintenance. Writes about it New York Post.

More than three quarters of respondents from all five districts - 77 percent - said they had stayed in shelters before but decided to return to the streets, according to a report released by the Homeless Coalition.

The report found that of those who avoided shelters, 38 percent expressed concerns about their safety, while another 44 percent accused urban social workers of being ineffective, over-controlling, inattentive or disrespectful.

“No discipline, no security, food sucks, I feel like I'm in prison, no love,” said one of the survey respondents.

“I'm a human,” said another. "I don't want to be treated like a mongrel."

On the subject: New York spends $ 26 thousand a month for each homeless person: giving them this money could be more effective

Urban social workers reached out to 84 percent of those surveyed. However, three-fifths of those approached have refused the services offered by the workers - usually placement back in shelters.

53% of respondents said they need real housing to get off the streets, and 26% also mentioned work and a stable income.

Homeless people were interviewed who lived in various places - from metro stations and sidewalks to parks and atriums of office buildings.

Homeless people in New York “view the sacrifice for their safety, dignity and freedom of action as an unacceptable price for living in shelters, and therefore they have no other choice,” the report said.

The report says that New York City street people are generally older than shelter residents, and two-thirds of those surveyed said they had "serious health problems." Only 6% said they have family or friends who can provide them with shelter in case of bad weather.

On the subject: Empty offices and hotels in New York may soon become homeless housing

State Gov. Andrew Cuomo put in place night subway stops last May to enable police to clear trains of homeless people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mayor Bill de Blasio at the time touted "historic" success in providing services to people found on trains or on platforms, but many were simply taken to dangerously overcrowded shelters. In addition, the city authorities refurbished hotels and began to place the homeless there as well. For the maintenance of all these shelters, the city allocates more than $ 1 million per day from taxpayers' money.

People living near hotels and shelters reported that homeless people often behave inappropriately, start fights or run naked down the street. For many, social workers are partly to blame for doing so, because they do less than they could and do not provide the services they need.

“People who sleep on the streets don't come here of their own accord, they're here because they don't have any choice,” said Lindsay Davis, senior director of crisis services for the Homeless Coalition. "Many of these people have serious physical and mental health problems, and existing shelters simply do not meet their needs."