Number of people turning to homeless shelters rises!
NEW YORK - April 11, 2011 - The Coalition for the Homeless says an all-time high number of New Yorkers turned to shelters last year.
The coalition says a record 113,553 people - including 42,888 children - slept in shelters run by New York City in fiscal year 2010. That's an 8% increase over the previous year.
The coalition released its annual State of the Homeless report Monday.
The group is calling on Mayor Michael Bloomberg to make greater use of federal housing programs like Section 8 vouchers to move families to permanent homes.
Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond says the coalition is being unrealistic if it expects the city will receive more federal housing subsidies.
He said the city's priority is helping homeless people find jobs.
