The homeless in the subway aren’t funny, but this edited poster sure is. (Courtesy of flickr user bellerspace)
Back in February, the homeless denizens of New York City came to our collective consciousness when reports revealed that the MTA spends $2000 per homeless person. At the time, the MTA noted that many of the homeless people escorted out of the subway simply return after a few days.
Well, now, as anyone who rides the subway can attest to, the MTA has revealed that the homeless problem in the subway is on the rise. While the total homeless population has decreased about two percent in the last year, the number of homeless in the subways has risen 33 percent. The Post has more:
“Subways are not a safe haven for the homeless,” MTA Executive Director Elliot Sander said. “They are not a safe place to be. It also has an impact on the environment for our commuters. It’s an issue we need to solve humanely.”
Sander and DHS Commissioner Robert Hess identified three transit hubs that are homeless hot spots: Penn Station, the Parsons-Archer station in Jamaica, and Stillwell Avenue in Coney Island.
None of this comes as news to straphangers. Anecdotally, as a frequent rider, I’ve seen more homeless on the subways recently than I have in years. Late at night, it’s now hard to find a train car without a sleeping resident. And forget about Penn Station, as the article notes; that hub has long been a haven for the homeless. It’s hard to find a usable bathroom in Amtrak’s home, and the homeless pervade the station, often right under the noses of the transit cops patrolling the area.
But what can the city do here? That’s the tough question. Overall, the homeless in New York are a much smaller percentage of the population than they are in other U.S. cities, but their presence in the subway leaves many feeling unsafe. The cops could wake up sleeping riders who seem to have settled in for the night, but that’s hardly a long-term solution. Anyone got any better ideas?
8 comments
“California Love…”
One solution to the homeless probelm was suggested to me by a friend and that is to house the homeless in governemnt ships that were no longer in use and might be found in New York’s local harbors, or could shipped there by the appropraite authority. These vessels could provide a safe haven for these wretched peope who, in many instances, suffer from mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and obviously have never found a niche for themselves in our society except at the bottom rung of the ladder.This solution,if proved possible, could provide some sense of sanctuary to their lives.
More homeless on the subways=more begging on the subways. So even if it’s not late at night and the homeless are taking up 4 seats as a bed, they are asking for money, which is just as bad. It is illegal to beg on the subways but I’m still waiting for someone to enforce that law.
That poster made me laugh out loud at my desk. I feel ashamed.
They should be escorted out of the subway, then secretly killed.
Bwahahahaha!!!
That Marsha is a tough lady.
Victoria, I’ve got the school bus!
[…] is particularly high. Over the last few years, the number of homeless people in subways has risen, and an increase attention to this problem will serve both social needs and commuter comfort. […]