High price of homelessness

THE CITY COUNCIL questioned the precipitously rising budget for the Department of Homeless Services on Tuesday, even as the homeless population of about 61,000 New Yorkers has yet to drop.

Councilman Stephen Levin (D-Brooklyn) said actual spending for the Department of Homeless Services was $1.4 billion in fiscal year 2016 — and had grown to $2.14 billion in the current fiscal year. “But we have not seen a significant decrease in the shelter census despite that increase in spending,” Levin said during a City Council budget hearing.

Human Resources Administration Commissioner Steve Banks said Homeless Services has stemmed the growth of the homeless population, and is trying to shrink it.