New York City Buys Homeless People One-Way Plane Tickets to Keep Shelter Costs Down
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New York City is buying one-way plane tickets for homeless families to leave the city.
It's part of a program by Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration to keep the homeless out of the expensive shelter system, which costs $36,000 a year per family.
More than 550 families have left the city since 2007. All it takes is for a relative to agree to take them in.
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The city employs a travel agency for domestic travel and the Department of Homeless Services handles international travel.
City officials say there are no limits on where a family can be sent and families can reject the offer.
Families have been sent to 24 states and five continents, mostly to Puerto Rico, Florida, Georgia and the Carolinas.
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City officials say none of the relocated families have returned to city shelters.