NYC to spend $650M on combating homelessness and mental illness New York City Mayor Eric Adams seized on a spate of recent high-profile attacks in the subway system as he pitched his vision for the city going forward, announcing Thursday an additional $650 million over the next five years to combat street homelessness and mental illness.
The bulk of the funding will go toward the creation of an additional 900 so-called “safe haven” beds, an alternative to the city’s dormitory-style shelters, as well as 100 new beds for homeless children and teens, according to Anne Williams-Isom, the deputy mayor for health and human services.
The number of people living on the streets and subways of New York City reached a nearly two-decade high last year, driven in part by rising rents and a shelter system widely seen as unsafe and overcrowded.
Adams, a Democrat, unveiled the new funding during his annual State of the City speech, touting the investment as a bulwark against heightened concerns about public safety, his signature issue.
“This investment will allow us to expand support for New Yorkers who are living on our subways, wrestling with serious mental illness, and at risk of entering shelter.”.
