Homelessness on the rise in Bronx, city, according to report

Mayor Michael Bloomberg?s (R-NYC) efforts to reduce homeless in the Bronx and city has done the exact opposite, according to a New York Times report.In his five-year plan, Bloomberg was hoping to decrease

News 12 Staff

Mar 19, 2007, 1:01 PM

Updated 6,415 days ago

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Mayor Michael Bloomberg?s (R-NYC) efforts to reduce homeless in the Bronx and city has done the exact opposite, according to a New York Times report.In his five-year plan, Bloomberg was hoping to decrease homelessness by two-thirds. According to the report, however, homelessness is at a record high with more than 9,200 families currently living in shelters. Critics blame what they call the "flawed" Housing Stability Plus Program. Robert Hess, commissioner for the Department of Homeless Services, agrees. He says they 2-year-old program, which replaced Section 8, has led to the homeless population increase. In an effort to alleviate the problem, city officials are considering making changes to the rent subsidy program. That reportedly includes stabilizing the value of housing vouchers.