By Alicia CruzTheBlackUrbanTimes
(Photo Left) Justin Little and Eugenia Martin, with Inez, returned to North Carolina after only a few days when relatives paid their back rent.
Photo By / Michelle V. Agins / The New York Times
It costs $36,000 a year for the City of New York to house a homeless family and the City has shelled out multi-millions since over the years to house them in several of the cities shelters.
Mayor Bloomberg devised a plan to shave these costs and move homeless individuals closer to relatives where they may have support systems: he's offering anyone with a homeless status or currently residing in one of the city's many shelters or shelter programs a one-way ticket back to their home of record.
550 families have left the city since the inception of this program in 2007 and so far, none have returned to New York City.
Some are going by bus, some by plane and some are driving, but all are headed home to what they hope is going to be a better life. Many of these families and individuals arrived in New York hoping for a shot at a better life, but instead met the inability to find jobs which eventually led to them entering or re-entering shelters.
Read the entire story here
No comments:
Post a Comment
We appreciates all comments and fosters free speech, however, keep in mind that we have young readers who peruse our site. Having said that, please refrain from using profane language, and know that flaming will not be tolerated. Spam will not be tolerated.