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Homeless Advocates Demand Urgent Action From De Blasio & Cuomo
By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 7, 2015
Modified Apr 7, 2015
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By
Rebecca Fishbein
Published Apr 7, 2015
Modified Apr 7, 2015
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Homeless advocacy group Homes for Every New Yorker released a report today begging the mayor and governor to make a serious effort to cut down on the city's rising homeless population.
According to the report [pdf], the homeless shelter population rose to a record 60,000 individuals last year, with 1 in every 42 children spending at least one night in a homeless shelter. The group blames the spike in homelessness on the "disastrous Bloomberg administration policies that eliminated permanent housing resources from homeless children and families," and urges both de Blasio and Cuomo to set a different course.
The report calls for an increase in minimum wage, the allocation of more NYCHA housing for homeless families, and rental assistance for NYers living with HIV, among other initiatives the coalition believes would alleviate what they call "the most disturbing toll" of the city's affordability crisis. Advocates want de Blasio, who promised to make affordable housing the cornerstone of his administration, to allot 10 percent of city-assisted housing for the homeless.
The mayor should also work with the governor to renew a city-state agreement that would create and fully fund 30,000 supportive housing units over the next decade, the report urges, and to offer rent subsidies to homeless families and individuals that would ultimately save the state money in shelter upkeep and eviction costs.
Elected officials like City Council Member Jumaane Williams and Public Advocate Letitia James joined homelessness advocates on the steps of City Hall today to join in on Homes for Every New Yorker's chorus. "With over 60,000 New Yorkers in shelters each night, New York City is experiencing a homelessness crisis not seen since the Great Depression," James said in a statement. "We need to enact proactive policies that expand housing options for our most vulnerable populations, and we need to make aggressive investments in subsidies and social services that keep New Yorkers in long-term housing placements and out of the shelter system."
The city's homeless population has been steadily rising over the past few years, according to statistics released by the Coalition for the Homeless. That group's annual report, the State of the Homeless, did find a significant decrease in homeless families since December, though they too called on the mayor and governor to act to alleviate homelessness.
For its part, City Hall says they've been actively trying to combat a very severe and pervasive homelessness problem. De Blasio spokesperson Ishanee Parikh issued this statement in response:
The Administration is taking aggressive steps to confront this crisis through expanded homeless prevention programs, including free legal assistance to prevent eviction; new rental assistance for eligible families ready to leave shelter; and most critically, by building and preserving more affordable housing than ever before. It will require the collaborative efforts of the City, State and federal government, along with our community-based partners, to ensure every family has an affordable, safe and decent home.
Tagged
homeless
homelessness
housing crisis
Rebecca Fishbein
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