New York City may convert de-commissioned cruise ships into
shelters for its rising numbers of homeless people. Last month, a record 37,000
homeless people were sleeping in city shelters every night according to the
Coalition for the Homeless, which compiles statistics for the city. City
officials, including Mayor Michael Bloomberg's commissioner of homeless
services, have flown to the Bahamas to inspect disused ships. They say the idea
of using them was just one option being considered – but critics say the plan
is unnecessary, and have called on the city to provide affordable housing for
those in need. City officials stressed that it is too early to speculate on how
the cruise-ship idea might be applied in New York.