Lester is homeless and agreed to pose for this photo
New York City Mayor Mike Bloomberg has approved a program to assist stranded and homeless individuals in New York City. Actually, the program has been around for awhile but is now starting to get more attention. Bus and plane tickets are provided, free of charge, to the needy who have family members willing to assist them. The vouchers are issued with the stipulation that the receiver will be transported to the city where a willing family member is waiting to help them.
The program has been both criticized and applauded by advocates for the homeless. In New York City, there are approximately 36,000 homeless families and individuals in the shelter system - nearly 16,000 are children. The average family stays in the shelter system for 10 months according to the Coalition for the Homeless.
Approximately 90% of homeless people in New York City are African American or Latino. An astonishing 75% of homeless individuals, on the streets of New York City, suffer from some form of mental illness. Homeless advocates insist the number of homeless people has doubled in recent years while the New York City Dept. of Homeless Services has recently issued a report showing the number of unsheltered homeless people has declined from nearly 4400 to 2300 this year.
To enter a shelter, you must first visit an intake center. New York City has three intake centers, two for women and one for men. There are many non-profit organizations that also assist the homeless. Many factors contribute to the homeless issue such as aging out of the foster care system, domestic violence, substance abuse and mental illness. If you are homeless, call 311 for additional information and to be directed to an office for immediate assistance.
Read Part 1 of this series: The politics behind obesity and health care reform
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