Homeless people at the MTA Grand Central Terminal entrance/ Photo by Betsy Kim

NEW YORK CITY—In a letter issued to the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo emphasized that the agency's reorganization plan due at the end of the month must include a plan to reduce homelessness on the subways.

He noted while crime may be down, the number of homeless people on the subways has increased. His letter stated in 2018 there were 1,771 homeless people living in the subway. But that number surged to 2,178 in 2019, an increase of 23%. He cited MTA statistics that last year trains were delayed 659 times due to homeless people walking on the tracks or creating disruptions. This was an increase of 54% compared to the 428 delays related to the homeless in 2014.

He wrote New Yorkers have become accustomed to having homeless people on the trains and in the terminals during winter months. But this has become the status throughout the year. “The discussion has had the NYPD point to the MTA and the MTA point to the NYPD,” he said.

“The simple and plain truth is that too many mentally ill people are housed in our jails and left to our streets,” Cuomo's letter to the MTA stated. “The MTA must develop a comprehensive outreach plan that coordinates MTA personnel, social service providers and shelter and supportive housing providers to help the homeless out of the system and into safe, supportive environments. If the MTA needs more police or social service providers, now is the time to make that adjustment. Hire them and include it in the reorganization plan.”

In a statement sent to GlobeSt.com, Jacquelyn Simone, policy analyst at Coalition for the Homeless, said increased policing of homeless people in the subways is misplaced.

“We have always advised state and city leaders that the answer is most definitely not more policing because summonses and harassing vulnerable people to make them move simply pushes them deeper into the shadows without helping them obtain the services and housing each one of them needs,” wrote Simone. “If Governor Cuomo wants to fix the problem, let him step up with more housing and services specifically targeted for homeless people, stop shifting the cost of shelters off to localities, and stop the prison-to-shelter pipeline from the State's correctional facilities.”

At a press conference on Friday, Cuomo emphasized he has worked on assisting the homeless since his 20s, starting a non-profit called HELP. His plan for homelessness was used by several previous NY mayors and under the Clinton administration he was in charge of the national homeless policy. Cuomo emphasized that he also took on the issue as HUD secretary and as the governor of NY.

He pointed out that the MTA has its own rules, spends millions of dollars on social service providers and has its own police force.

He stressed as with public safety, fare evasion, contracting, congestion pricing, construction, train speed, with capital planning—homelessness on trains needs to be addressed.

“I've worked on this issue all my adult life. I've never seen it this bad. I've never seen it this egregious either on the number and the statistics and as a matter of visibility,” said Cuomo.

Instant Insights /

Gov. Cuomo Urges MTA Reorganization to Address Homelessness

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