Big changes are coming to the city's Department of Homeless Services. Mayor de Blasio announced Tuesday that agency head Gilbert Taylor will leave the administration. De Blasio also ordered a top-to-bottom review of the department. The number of homeless people in the city’s shelters and on the streets has been skyrocketing and the move comes after months of scrutiny over the mayor's homeless policies.

 Patrick Markee worked at the Coalition for the Homeless for about 20 years. He says it's unfair to blame de Blasio for the crisis.

"It was largely the result of failed policies under the Bloomberg administration which eliminated permanent housing assistance designed to help women and families — who  make up the majority of the homeless population — leave shelters and obtain their own homes,” Markee told WNYC.

Markee says a plan under consideration to consolidate the Department of Homeless Services with the Human Resources Administration could help coordinate city efforts to help its poorest residents.

Markee spoke to WNYC’s Soterios Johnson.