Homelessness in New York City is reaching levels last seen during the Great Depression. During Mayor Bloomberg’s tenure, the Department of Homeless Services has been ineffectual in stemming this rising tide. The DHS is one of the few city agencies that has a single, specific mission: “to prevent homelessness when possible and to provide short-term, emergency shelter for individuals and families who have no other housing options available.” Despite modest increases to the DHS budget, the number of homeless individuals has increased sharply.

Sources: NYC Office of Management and Budget, Coalition for the Homeless. Photo by Flickr user AYOBRUH.