
The scenes at Grand Central Terminal and Penn Station in New York have been pictured amid an apparent homeless crisis that is reportedly making the lives of commuters and tourists a misery.

Images show displaced Americans trying to sleep on floors and even trash cans as travelers and business people go about their daily lives, while other photographs captured this weekend show them tucked up discreetly on benches and at food hall dining tables.

But some pictures show panhandlers begging for money as people run to catch trains or stop to grab refreshments, and it has reportedly made people dread using the stations in Midtown Manhattan.

Homeless people at New York train stations are reportedly making other people's lives a misery. Pictured, a homeless person approaches people inside Penn Station

Police officers check on a homeless woman inside Grand Central Terminal, New York on Saturday

Homeless people sit down beside a phone booth inside Penn Station as commuters walk by. One is pictured on their phone

A homeless man sits on the stairs inside Penn Station, New York where people enter and exit the station for transport to New Jersey and to visit the Madison Square Garden area

A homeless woman wrapped in a comforter walks inside Penn Station, New York, after it was reported the station is overrun with displaced people

Homeless people sit around the walls Penn Station, New York while one man lays splayed out on the floor as people walk by

Two people from a business inside Penn Station, New York are seen looking at a homeless person resting on the stairs inside

The Bowery Residents Committee temporarily closed its outreach office at Penn Station after even members of the group hired to work with the homeless, couldn't handle it anymore

CBS previously reported by that at 5.30pm the Grand Central station 'becomes a homeless shelter' and potential customers are afraid to visit businesses.

The scene on Saturday showed people without a home using parts of the dining areas to rest with their belongings. A sign reads 'grab a seat and enjoy'.

Others were seen around an area with a sink and drinking fountain for water or walking by the lost and found area with items of clothing.

On Saturday, numerous police officers were seen moving people along.

Those in need were pictured resting on garbage cans while others appeared to be in trouble with authorities.

It's after it was reported the Bowery Residents Committee temporarily closed its outreach office at Penn Station after even members of the group hired to work with the homeless, couldn't handle it anymore.

A homeless woman named Dixie from New York, aged 65, sits in the food terminal of Grand Central Terminal, New York. She has been homeless for 30 years and looks for food in the station daily to survive

Dixie has been homeless for 30 years and looks for food in Grand Central Terminal daily in order to survive

Several homeless people are seen in the food hall of Grand Central Terminal, New York as people dine around them

A homeless woman sits in the food hall of Grand Central Terminal, New York on Saturday, trying to keep out of the cold

A homeless man sleeps in the food hall of Grand Central Terminal, New York as other eat and drink around him

A homeless man sleeps on a chair in the center of in the food hall of Grand Central Terminal, New York

A homeless man sits in the food hall of Grand Central Terminal, New York. A sign reads 'grab a seat and enjoy' (top right)

A homeless person sleeps on a bench inside Grand Central Terminal, New York after complaints the station is overrun

Jean Rice, aged 80, sits in the food terminal of Grand Central Terminal, New York this weekend

Jean is homeless but says that he can always call on a friend or family for a place to sleep and helps with the group Picture the Homeless. He says he comes to Grand Central to monitor the police and service agencies treatment of the other homeless persons

Members said they had received a threat from one well-known homeless man who is believed to have threatened staffers at the office when he was told to leave.

Eugene Watts allegedly responded by saying: 'I will leave, but I'm going to come back with a gun and shoot you'.

Watts denied he made the threat.

A spokesperson for Amtrak, which contracts with the BRC for its outreach services, said the office has since reopened, but did not have additional information.

The station, meanwhile, is increasingly becoming overrun by homeless people.

One outside the station held a sign that read 'I might as well be invisible'.

'You see people who are barefoot. People throw ice in here. I've seen people literally defecate right here in front of the store,' said Cesar Rodriguez, who manages a Verizon store at the terminal, reports the New York Post.

Homeless people sit inside Grand Central Terminal, New York near a sink with a fountain for drinking water

A homeless man walks inside Grand Central Terminal, New York carrying his belongings with him this weekend. He is pictured by the lost and found area (right)

A homeless woman looks inside a bin at Grand Central Terminal, New York's Great Northern Food Hall

MTA Homeless Outreach workers speak to a homeless man inside Grand Central Terminal, New York

MTA Homeless Outreach workers speak to a homeless man inside Grand Central Terminal, New York

A homeless person sleeps inside Grand Central Terminal, outside an area that hosts several Chase bank ATM machines

Police officers check on a homeless person inside Grand Central Terminal, New York, near the cash machines

Homeless people sit down inside Grand Central Terminal, New York as travelers walk by on Saturday

Homeless people sit down inside Grand Central Terminal, New York

Even former New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton took to Twitter to point out the rising problem within the terminal, noting it was already happening before the outreach program closed its doors.

'People always sleeping on the floor, all over the station,' he wrote in the social media post.

A July 2019 audit by the New York State Comptroller's office found that the nonprofit BRC had not been fulfilling its requirements under its contract.

The report noted that staffers spent 26 per cent of their time doing actual outreach, and the rest inside the office, the New York Post reports.

Rosenblatt said the BRC faces difficulties in carrying out its mission at the station.

'Homelessness is challenging for the person experiencing it,' he said. 'It's challenging for those of us trying to help people. It's challenging for the people who are using Penn Station to travel and shop'.

'You have arrived': Homeless people sit on stairs at Penn Station in New York City this weekend

A homeless person tries to take a quick nap on top of a garbage can inside Penn Station, New York, near where people buy tickets

A homeless person sleeps inside Penn Station, New York nearby the Amtrak ticket officer

A homeless man sits inside Penn Station, New York, nearby Amtrak machines where people can collect their tickets

Homeless people sit on stairs inside Penn Station, New York.

A homeless person lies inside Penn Station, New York near a large sign for customer service and another for the PATH train

. A homeless person sleeps inside Penn Station, New York nearby where people go to board trains

Homeless people sit around inside Penn Station, New York and the arm of one laying on the floor is pictured right

Members of the NYPD Police Homeless Outreach Unit check on homeless people inside Penn Station, New York.

A homeless person sleeps on stairs inside Penn Station, New York (left). One rests on the ground as people walk to get trains

A homeless person sleeps on the steps nearby a set of escalators inside Penn Station, New York

A homeless person sits inside Penn Station, New York resting his head on his arms as people around him wait for trains

A homeless woman stands half asleep while resting on the Amtrak line barriers inside Penn Station, New York

A homeless woman wrapped in a comforter walks inside Penn Station, New York as families walk by businesses

Amtrak and members of the NYPD Police Homeless Outreach Unit police check on people inside Penn Station, New York

Homeless people, however, complained the BRC wasn't doing a good enough job providing them support.

The program is supported by funding from Amtrak and the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, or MTA, which operates New York's local and express bus, subway and commuter rail services.

MTA Chief Safety Officer Patrick Warren says the agency 'fully expect our partners to meet the standards set forth in their contracts, and if those terms are not met appropriate actions will be taken'.

Jean Rice, aged 80, said from the food terminal of Grand Central Terminal that he comes to Grand Central to monitor the police and service agencies treatment of the other homeless persons.

Jean is homeless but says that he can always call on a friend or family for a place to sleep and helps with the group Picture the Homeless.

A 65-year-old homeless woman named Dixie, from New York, said she has been without a place to live for 30 years and looks for food in Grand Central Terminal daily to survive.

Amtrak police and a man assist an incapacitated man (left) nearby a set of escalators inside Penn Station, New York this weekend. Another talks to a different man

Police patrol inside Penn Station, New York after complaints that it has become overrun with homeless people

A man is moved along by police inside Penn Station, New York

A homeless woman panhandles inside Penn Station, New York, holding a cup from a fast food restaurant to collect money