Homeless Offered Free Airfare To Leave NYC
Bloomberg Administration Initiative Provides One-Way Ticket Anywhere As Part Of Plan To Save On Shelter Costs
NEW YORK (CBS) ―


Paris? Orlando? San Juan? New York City is buying one-way plane tickets for homeless families to leave the city.

It's part of a Bloomberg administration program to keep the homeless out of the expensive shelter system, which costs $36,000 a year per family. More than 550 families have left the city since 2007. All it takes is for a relative to agree to take them in.

According to nyc.gov, the official Web site of city government, more than 35,000 people are currently in shelters in and around the city.

The city employs a travel agency to book one-way tickets for domestic travel and the Department of Homeless Services handles all international travel.

City officials say there are no limits on where a family can be sent and families can reject the offer and stay in city shelters.

So far, families have been sent to 24 states and 5 continents, mostly to Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas.

City officials say none of the relocated families have returned to city shelters.
http://wcbstv.com/local/n...05442.html

This seems just.....wrong...

You used to just get a greyhound ticket. They've upgraded.

I think the idea is a good one overall. It's cheaper for a city to pay for someone's way out than to pay for all the resources a homeless, jobless person may need. And if they've got family vouching to take care of and help someone on the other side, all the better

If it's going to help them then why not?

Sounds like a win,win to me, They get off the streets and the city saves money.

As long as they stop taking buses to Boston... I am straight! Most of the homeless families in the shelters are New Yorkers, and we have a housing crisis in Boston because of it. I work in the shelters community garden with the teens and most are illegals that had can't get housing in NY because of CORY issues.

I think this is a good cause. I can only imagine how many homeless people need just that. Sometimes a plane ride to California or where ever they need to get to is all they needed to get started on a better path.

JerseyKRS said:

Not that you are homeless, but.....as a person who has moved from New Jersey to the south, have you ever regretted moving to Florida?

no dont come to cali we got enuf ppl here already .. what happnd to
'Give me your tired,poor huddled masses yearning to breathe free, ...etc etc ... now its scram beat it ..

JerseyKRS said:

I don't reccommend California as a destination . The Homeless population is 10x worse and were close to 13 % unemployment.

SilverlakePhil said:

Yeah but...



"Californyah-nyah-nyah is narg-a-don-nyah-nyah!!"

SilverlakePhil said:

I'm just saying...maybe they have family or an oppurtunity they don't in NYC. Sometimes it's so hard to make that first step, if it is extended to them, it's like a godsend.

JerseyKRS said:

I agree, many come to Boston because of it and now Boston is like NYC. So airfare to a different city (region of the country) can hold better opportunities for that family especially if it regarding a safety issue to get away from an abuser.
[Edited 7/30/09 8:09am]

JerseyKRS said:

It ain't going to help, unless they have family. The importance of family is becoming more apparent with each passing day. Some don't have that resource I know, and that's sad. But some do and for whatever reason refuse to utilize it.

kick out the homeless but by all means let in illegals ... sad