Platt/GettyHomeless advocates defend storage program, which allows homeless families to store furniture and other personal items.

Taxpayers shelled out $8.5 million last year to store furniture for the city's homeless - a program welfare officials admit could be done for less.

Now their goal is to do it cheaper, not to eliminate the perk, which is required by the state.

"We hope to reduce the cost," said city Human Resources Administration spokeswoman Connie Ress.

Officials collected bids this summer to hire one storage company for the job - replacing the current system that lets homeless clients find storage and bill the city. Last year's $8.5 million bill for 6,300 clients was $1 million more than 2008's, according to HRA, due mostly to the city's growing homeless population.

Ress estimates the agency will save $1 million by streamlining the process.

The storage service, which is paid for with federal, state and city funds, began in 1985. HRA and homeless advocates defend the program, which allows homeless families to store furniture and other personal items, saying it saves taxpayers money in the end.

"It's economical in the long run, so they don't have to buy [the items] all over again," said Patrick Marquee of the Coalition for the Homeless.

The city paid $15.7 million to 31,000 people last year to help them "establish a home" and spent about $1 million more in moving fees.

HRA said this assistance is necessary because families that have to spend money on furniture and moving costs are more likely to end up back in shelters.

"It's one of those emergency needs the state requires," Ress said.

Government waste groups were on the fence about supporting the storage program, saying they don't condone throwing out people's furniture but question why the city isn't using its own space to store items cheaply.

"The choice of whether you take someone's belongings and toss them because they are homeless is tough," said Leslie Paige, a spokeswoman for Citizens Against Government Waste.

"Once the decision is made, it's incumbent on the government to make sure it's done in the most cost-effective way."

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