Public Employee Press

With union support
City unveils plan to fight the homeless crisis

Over the past two decades, the number of homeless has doubled to 58,000 - and nearly half are children.

By MIKE LEE

Mayor Bill de Blasio on April 11 announced a comprehensive plan to address New York City's exploding homeless crisis.

At a news conference in the Bronx, the mayor presented his plan. The mayor's overhaul of the homeless services system includes four key provisions: prevention, housing, street homelessness outreach and improving shelter conditions. The plan resulted from a 90-day review ordered by the mayor.

The mayor made the announcement at Bronxworks, a nonprofit group that offers assistance to at-risk families.

"We know the status quo has not been working. We don't accept that status quo. Today begins a new approach," de Blasio said.

According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness, the number of homeless in shelters in the five boroughs has doubled in the last two decades to 58,000 - and nearly half are children.

The review followed the resignation of Commissioner of Homeless Services Gilbert Taylor in December.

"We have to evaluate whether the current structures make sense," de Blasio said, in a meeting with reporters after Taylor's departure. He then noted the responsibility of overseeing homelessness was shared by the Dept. of Homeless Services and the Human Resources Administration. The new reforms include a single commissioner overseeing both the HRA and DHS and for both departments to share administrative duties.

The new initiative will also add additional funding of $68 million to confront the homeless crisis. The reforms include an estimated $38 million in cost savings by eliminating duplicate operations while streamlining management.

The union backs the overhaul.

In response to the mayor's announcement, DC 37 Executive Director Henry Garrido said, "As necessary as they are, shelters are not viable, lasting solutions for our city's homeless. This initiative gets more New Yorkers out of shelters and into permanent housing."

"It will also keep more vulnerable families in their homes where they belong while generating millions of dollars in savings," Garrido said.

SSEU Local 371, which represents many workers in both departments, also strongly supports the reform.

"We are very happy," said SSEU Local 371 President Anthony Wells. "We were always opposed to the division of the two departments years ago, and we believe that the reforms will address underlying issues, such as affordable housing and social services needs."