Surge in Homelessness
June 30, 2006
Cassi Feldman
New York Post
The number of homeless has soared this summer, leaving the city scrambling for beds, according to the Department of Homeless Services
As of Wednesday, there were 8,424 families - representing 24,776 individuals - in city shelters, about 5 percent more than last July's figure of 8,046.
While the number of homeless families tends to climb in the summer, when children are out of school and underfoot in crowded apartments, the department acknowledged that this year's spike, which bucks a two-year decline, is unusual.
Angela Allen, a spokeswoman for the agency, noted that the homeless-family population was still down 19 percent from its peak in 2003.
To accommodate the newly homeless families, the department opened 120 new shelter rooms in July, spread over four buildings, at a cost of $66 to $98 per night - a minimum of $237,600 in city funding.
The news comes at an awkward time for Mayor Bloomberg, who gushed about the city's approach to homelessness during a July 17 conference in Washington.