The latest manifestation of New York City’s progressive empathy for “asylum seekers” (i.e. illegal immigrants) can be seen in the shocking increase in the population of homeless shelters.
The number of people living in the shelter system has jumped 53% over the past year, according to the latest figures from Mayor Adams’ Interim Management Report.
This data comes from year-over-year comparisons for the first fiscal quarter, July through October.
There were an average of 83,985 people in shelters per day in the 2023 quarter. The one for 2022 is “only” 54,738.
The picture gets even grimmer when you dig into family data.
The numbers represent a frightening 147% increase in admissions to shelters for families with children.
With more than 210 emergency shelters open in Gotham, the shelter beasts never stop sleeping or eating.
More than 100 hotels were converted into evacuation centers, at a cost of more than $1 billion.
And the total cost to the city of the migrant flood ($12 billion by the end of fiscal year 2025) assumes the influx goes to zero, but there is no immediate sign of that happening.
As a result, average New Yorkers will continue to feel financial pressure, and immigrants will continue to be trapped in a shelter system that is ill-equipped to accommodate them.
Don’t let Big Apple progressives or beleaguered mayors complain about abnormal circumstances.
Yes, the influx is unprecedented.
But this is unprecedented because, thanks to the lunacy of the left that underpins social policy, immigrants know that this city is a treasure trove of free handouts.
Adams changed his tone, but made it clear that when the first wave hit, Gotham was a sanctuary city and proudly welcomed them.
Even after the scope and scale of the crisis became clear, he refused to fundamentally challenge the absurd rights to shelter that have tied New York’s hands for decades when it comes to homelessness.
The idea that over 170,000 illegal immigrants are somehow legally guaranteed a place to live, no matter their circumstances, is as morally vile as it is legally questionable.
And now we are seeing results.
A shelter system strained to breaking point.
High school students began remote “learning” to secure space for immigrant families.
Immigrants knock on doors and beg around the Floyd Bennett Field shelter.
Violence against police is rampant but goes unpunished thanks to other leftist policies.
New Yorkers’ resources and patience are being stretched to the limit.
But it is clear that the tide continues and only fundamental political change can end it.
