Posted on March 19, 2015 by Melissa Russo in NBC News 4 New York NBC News 4 New York, By Melissa Russo Mayor Bill de Blasio came into office vowing to attack the problem of homelessness as his predecessor had. Yet in the first year of his term homelessness rose by 13 percent according to a new report by the Coalition for the Homeless. News 4 Government Affairs Reporter Melissa Russo reports.