Exporting the Impoverished

The City of New York has been spending thousands of dollars to send people out of the city -- opting to pay for one-way plane tickets instead of providing social services.

1 minute read

July 30, 2009, 5:00 AM PDT

By Nate Berg


The city has sent off more than 550 families since 2007, saving the city about $36,000 per family per year in social service costs.

"Many of them are longtime New Yorkers who have come upon hard times, arrive at the shelter's doorstep and jump at the offer to move at no cost. Others are recent arrivals who are happy to return home after becoming discouraged by the city's noise, the mazelike subway, the difficult job market or the high cost of housing."

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 in The New York Times

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