The Homeless Problem in New York City

Paper Summary:

This paper reports that, in 2004, New York City set a record when the number of homeless New Yorkers residing in shelters reached the highest point in the city's history. The author points out that 90 percent of homeless New Yorkers are black or Latino, even though only 53 percent of New York City's total population is black or Latino; moreover, over 60 percent of homeless families previously lived in four of New York City's poorest neighborhoods, and over half of the homeless mothers have a history of domestic violence. This paper concludes that it will take years of dedication and focus for New York City to ease the problem of homelessness by creating not only adequate permanent housing for the homeless, which actually will cost less than the present shelter and other emergency care programs, but also available services for those suffering from mental illness and substance abuse.

From the Paper:

"According to the Coalition for the Homeless, in the month of August 2004, some 36,400 homeless men, women, and children were sleeping each night in the New York City shelter system, including 15,300 children, 12,700 adult family members, and 8,400 single adults, with many thousands more sleeping on city streets, park benches, and subway trains. New York City's homeless shelter population has increased by 73 percent since 1998, from 21,000 to the current 36,400. The past six years has seen the number of homeless families sleeping in New York City shelters and welfare hotels increase by 99 percent, from 4,429 families in January 1998 to 8,726 families in August 2004. Moreover, the average stay for homeless families in the municipal shelter system has almost doubled over the past decade, from six months in 1992, to nearly twelve months today."

More papers on The Homeless Problem in New York City:

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