NYC starts charging rent at homeless shelters

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS | Newsday Staff Writer
10:01 AM EDT, May 9, 2009
Even the homeless can't escape the high price of a night in New York City.

City officials this month began charging rent to some families staying in homeless shelters.

The policy applies only to shelter residents who have income from jobs.

They could be expected to pay up to half their earnings.

Celebrities out and about New York>> Some shelter residents say the new rule will ruin their chances of saving enough money to get an apartment.

One single mother living in a Manhattan shelter tells The New York Times she got a letter saying she had to give up $336 of the $800 she makes each month as a cashier.

The city says it is only charging people who can afford to pay.

About 2,000 families are expected to be covered by the new rule.


People are just too money hungry these days. A homeless shelter is also to help employed citizens find their own place to live. It's going to be very hard for them to do this with them taking over 1/2 of their paychecks for the shelter. Where has this world gone to?????????? To shit is where it's gone......

Now thats just sad.Being homeless is devestating to a lot of these folks,now being told they got to give up a lot of their paychecks,no reason for it.I understand it takes money to operate the shelters,but have to give 25 bucks a week,not half their pay.