New York has spent $ 89 million on sending homeless people to other states, but they are coming back

New York spent millions of dollars sending over 12 thousands of homeless people to other states, but hundreds of them returned to shelters in America's largest city. This publication writes Independent.

According to a new report released on the New York Post on Tuesday, more than 12 of thousands of homeless people from New York were sent to live in 32 states across the country, as well as in Puerto Rico as part of a “special one-time assistance program”.

“The city sent 5 homeless families, a total of 074 people, to 12 cities across the country, at a cost of $ 482 million to taxpayers,” the report said.

It is noted that the city has laid out thousands of dollars for the expenses of such families, starting from their relocation and ending with the organization of the household. At the same time, the report did not disclose a specific breakdown of expenses for such expenses, the source clarifies.

Supporters and opponents of the program

The New York City Department of Homelessness defended the program, noting the obvious savings it provides.

“Given that the average annual rent for a displaced family is $ 17, the city pays about $ 563 for housing to each family living in the shelter,” it said.

However, there are some elements in the program of Mayor Bill de Blasio that have caused controversy among critics.

On the subject: New York spends millions sending homeless people to other states

While most families receiving urban relocation assistance travel outside the state, 35% of them “relocate within the city,” where they spend more money on rents than stated household expenses.

Moreover, hundreds of people returned to New York shelters after the city spent the funds to resettle them.

Some of the homeless reported that the conditions in the apartments into which they moved were “completely unacceptable.”

“We couldn't stay there any longer,” Sade Collington told the New York Post. It is noted that the family moved to an apartment in New Jersey, where, allegedly, there was no heat, no water, or electricity. “We returned to the shelter for another six months,” she added.

The New York City Department of Investigation reportedly found “several vulnerabilities” in the relocation assistance program, including “failure to hold participating landlords and real estate brokers accountable.”

The New York State Senate has already launched an investigation into this program.