Posted on October 15, 2015 by John Schiumo in NY1 NY1, By John Schiumo How many tax dollars are needed to house people who are homeless in New York City? A report released today from the New York City Independent Budget Office focused on the growing cost for housing homeless families and single adults and found shelter costs increased 62 percent since 2007. The report concluded City, State, and federal funds have risen from $604 million in fiscal year 2007 to an estimated $976 million in 2015. In June of this year, an average of 13,795 family households and 11,927 single adults stayed in shelters each night, for a total of approximately 56,000 individuals. Mayor de Blasio has committed to spending an additional $1 billion to combat homelessness over the next four years. Many advocates want to see the City spend less on temporary responses to homelessness and more on longer-term solutions.
