De Blasio Vows To End Street Homelessness In 5 Years

NEW YORK CITY — Mayor Bill de Blasio's new homelessness plan promises to find shelter for an estimated 3,600 people living on New York City streets within the next five years.

De Blasio, a Democrat, released his plan Tuesday to bring 1,000 new apartments reserved for homeless people and 1,000 beds into city houses of worship across New York City.

"We will end street homelessness as we know it," wrote the Mayor in the introduction. "It is not a declaration made in blind faith. It is a declaration based on the fact that, for the first time ever, we have found an approach that works."

The estimated 3,600 people who live on New York City streets and subways are among a total 70,000 homeless New Yorkers, officials say.

Earlier this year, de Blasio directed 18,000 city employees to report homeless New Yorkers to 311 to connect them with social, medical and mental health services.

De Blasio's previous homelessness policies have drawn criticism from advocates who argue the Mandatory Inclusionary Housing initiative did little to help New Yorkers who could not meet steep income requirements.

When self-professed homeless woman Nathylin Flowers Adesegun asked de Blasio for help at the Park Slope YMCA last October, the Mayor replied, "I'm doing my workout."