The number of homeless people in New York has reached an all-time high

The problem of the homeless in New York is not getting any smaller. According to the Homeless Relief Coalition, the number of homeless people in the city has reached an all-time high. They claim that the average number of people sleeping in shelters every night rose to almost 66 in October. Fox5 NY.

According to the Coalition, the main reason is that the city has not been able to provide enough affordable housing. Back in February, Mayor Eric Adams launched his plan to crack down on subway safety and has repeatedly celebrated its success.

However, the data shows that about 70% of the homeless who were taken out of metro stations and placed in shelters left them within a week of admission.

The data covers two separate homeless interventions: subway safety plan and End of the Line (when everyone was kicked out of the cars at the end stations so that people would not be left sleeping on the trains). From February to August, nearly 2 homeless people were moved from the metro to shelters. But of those people, only 300% stayed in shelters for more than a week.

Many homeless people say they don't feel safe in shelters. In addition, many institutions have strict rules, such as curfews.

“Our shelters are not safe. These are not places where people want to live,” says Sia Weaver of Housing Justice for All.

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Contradictions of the Mayor's New Policy

Under the mayor's recently introduced policy, homeless people with a "mental health crisis" will be forcibly take away from the streets and from the subway. They will be taken to the hospital for examination even if they refuse.

This policy has been heavily criticized. It directs police and social workers to take people to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.

“This is a small, specific group of people who cannot take care of their basic needs. They suffer from mental illness and are a danger to themselves and others,” said Mayor Adams.

However, mental health professionals denounce the plan. And they claim that it deprives a person of fundamental rights. Human rights activists say "cheap housing" is the best solution to homelessness.

Mayor Adams says police officers will receive additional training from mental health professionals. He created this policy as a way to help people in need.