American taxpayers footing NYC's bill to house the homeless in boutique hotels

From WWW.FOXNEWS.COM

Since the novel coronavirus began desecrating through New York more than five months ago, Mayor Bill de Blasio's administration has been filling the city's high-priced hotels with people experiencing homelessness in a bid to ease the burden on the shelter system and to curb the spread of the pathogen – ensuring that individuals have their own room and space to socially distance.

But there is a growing divide between advocates who contend it's the only practical answer – despite the exorbitant costs – and locals who fear for their own safety and worry it will fiscally break the city and spread crime.

As it stands, at least 139 hotels are deemed home to people experiencing homelessness – a sharp rise from the estimated 40 hotels that were used in place of shelters prior to the outbreak of the global pandemic this year. Around 13,000 individuals are believed to be living in such hotels across some of the five boroughs, with most of them transferred from various shelters. There are approximately 700 hotels in the once-bustling New York City, and roughly 20 percent are now used as homeless shelters.

"(This) will eventually bankrupt the city. With more and more people fleeing the city because of the homeless problem and defunding the police where they don't feel safe, the city will not have the funds to sustain this," Michael Fischer, President of the Central Park Civic Association, a citywide advocacy group endeavoring to alert New Yorker's on the homelessness crisis, told Fox News. "And the crisis is only going to get worse."

Many also dread that the program could also catapult a host of other health and safety problems. According to a recent New York Post report, the city moved at least six convicted pedophiles – still on parole – into an opulent hotel on Manhattan's Upper West Side, a mere block from an elementary school playground and thus an apparent violation of state law.

The six men are listed on the state's sex offender registry - one of whom "had forced sex with a four-year-old girl." City Hall denied to The Post that the parolees were at that location.

When reached for comment, an official did not confirm nor deny but told Fox News that "the City of New York places all clients in appropriate locations in accordance with State Law – and we provide shelter to New Yorkers experiencing homelessness regardless of background."

"All verifiably homeless New Yorkers have a right to shelter regardless of background. This includes helping people rebuild their lives and grow through second chances as they get back on their feet," said the official, who commented on background. "We don’t discriminate based on people’s previous experiences or backgrounds, and we will not create gated communities within our City."

But it's not only New Yorkers funding the homeless-in-hotels effort – the tab appears to extend to all American taxpayers.

In April – as New York became the epicenter of the virus and there was no indication that hotel business would resume in the near future – a $78 million initial contract was inked to find hotels for people experiencing homelessness. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) agreed to foot at least 75% of the costs of the rooms, with the associated expenses – such as moves, the staff, medical care, mental health and extra services – landing on the laps of the New York taxpayers.

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Submitted 1353 days ago