The number of homeless people in the subway of New York increased by 45% over the summer

On September 13, the security chief of the New York City Transportation Authority (MTA) reported that the number of homeless people had increased by almost 45% over the summer. Most of them are in metro stations, where the most serious problems with vagrancy are observed, reports New York Post.

Eight stations are being used as living quarters by MTA security chief Patrick Warren. On average, 14,7 people spent the night at one station in August, and in May this figure was 10,2.

These dock stations include some of the city's busiest transport hubs. Including Grand Central Station, Penn Station, Port Authority Bus Station and Lexington Avenue / 59th Street Station. The rest are popular tourist stops - Times Square and Union Square, as well as Fulton Street in Manhattan and Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn.

Passenger dissatisfaction

A passenger who identified herself as "Nina S.", an education worker from Long Island, said, "I definitely stand next to homeless people when I'm on the subway."

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“I see feces, lunatics peeing in the corner of the stairs. This is disgusting, ”she added.

Another passenger, 59-year-old Jim Colletti, said: "Something needs to be done for our safety and theirs."

“People will think that our city is rubbish and will not come here,” he added.

Warren said transportation officials have begun to conduct their own homeless count. Because the data from the annual counts carried out by the city each winter are "unusable."

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He noted that the MTA's findings showed "the need for better and more affordable resources for people living on the street."

In June, MTA internal documents showed an increase in the number of subway cars contaminated with human waste, vomit and blood.

An agency spokesperson called the situation "a reminder of the need to expand the coverage of mental health and social support in the city."

Isaac McGinn, a spokesman for the city's Department of Homeless Affairs, said continued efforts by the de Blasio administration have resulted in some 700 homeless people leaving the metro and moving to shelters. There is also a shelter for Russian speakers in New York, he told about it Forum Daily New York.

He added that he did not know what the survey was and how it was conducted by MTA staff. But, according to him, working with qualified news agencies 24/7/365 is effective. In this way, they continue to attract New Yorkers who live defenselessly on the streets and on the subway.