New York City Offers Free One-Way Plane Tickets to Migrants Amid Shelter Crisis

City's "reticketing center" aims to clear overcrowded shelters while struggling with a growing migrant crisis and lack of federal support, offering voluntary flights to alternate locations around the globe.

New York City is facing a shelter crisis with over 65,000 migrants currently housed in its shelters. As a response, the city's administration has set up a 'reticketing center' in Manhattan to offer free one-way plane tickets to migrants wishing to find refuge elsewhere.
The city has spent around $394 per person, per day on housing, prompting the move to provide one-way plane tickets as a cost-saving measure. In some cases, this is cheaper than maintaining housing costs.
Encounters with migrants looking for shelter in New York City have been unprecedented, with officials reporting up to 4,000 new immigrants arriving each week.
The majority of migrants who reach the end of their 30-60 day permitted stays in shelters are finding alternate housing or utilizing the city’s reticketing offer to seek accommodation elsewhere.
As winter approaches, city officials are concerned about the potential of migrants being forced to live on the streets. Some reports also indicate that the city has considered issuing sleeping bags and tents, and setting up camps in designated areas.