In addition to what others have said, NYC is legally mandated to, and mostly does, provide sufficient shelter beds. Some homeless people for a mix of reasons, s

In addition to what others have said, NYC is legally mandated to, and mostly does, provide sufficient shelter beds. Some homeless people for a mix of reasons, some quite rational, avoid these shelters. However on the coldest nights of the year they are an option even for people that would usually rather avoid them. A similar story applies for Rikers Island (jail) or the public hospital system.