In 2004, Mayor Bloomberg declared that he would reduce homelessness in New York City by two-thirds, but according to an article in the New York Times, "Homelessness: Tackled, Not Beaten, by a Mayor With Formidable Goals," that despite some new initiatives and a reduction of people using shelters, the number of homeless families has reached an all time high. This should be alarming to Canadians because cities in Canada are looking to the New York example to solve our own problems with homelessness. In Vancouver, the police are advocating the New York solution to solving Vancouver's "street disorder problem." Politicians in Toronto have also looked to New York, read more on the Wellesly Institute Blog and to see how New York homeless activists are fighting homelessness in their city see: Coalition for the Homeless and Picture the Homeless.