Cohen blames politics as motivation for the one-way ticket home programme.

Anything to reduce the near-record number of homeless in New York, he said.

He also questions whether the homeless are really getting help. 'All we're really doing is arguably shifting the problem to another municipality,' Cohen said.

But city officials said they don't just willy-nilly fly people all over the world. They check up on what's waiting back home.

'We identify outside New York City resources that they have so that they will be going to their own apartment, going to live with a family, or going to a friend. They are going to a home,' Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs said.

City officials say none of the relocated families have returned to city shelters.