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The number of homeless families with children entering New York City shelters has risen dramatically in recent months, hitting an all-time high in November, when 9,720 families were reported in the municipal shelter system. According to figures released by the Department of Homeless Services, 1,343 new families were accepted into the shelter system last month, a 43% increase over the 935 who moved into shelters in November 2007.
Mary Brosnahan at the Coalition for the Homeless said in a statement: "The recession in New York is unfortunately just beginning, but already we have surpassed the all-time record high of family homelessness in New York City." The coalition is calling on Governor Paterson to back away from his proposal to reduce funds for homeless prevention, which comes on the heels of Mayor Bloomberg's plan to cut back on emergency shelters and other services.
According to the Times, Robert Hess, the commissioner of homeless services, said the new numbers prove the system works: "The fact that D.H.S.’s system is withstanding the test of recent high demand through difficult economic times and harsh weather conditions is evidence that the agency has successfully reformed our infrastructure and put a solid groundwork in place." Perhaps that's why last month the Department of Homeless Services forced 22 churches to stop serving as homeless shelters?
Photo courtesy Benzadrine.
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that photo should win an award.
agree with [1].
Great picture!
Here, here!
That shit is POIGNANT!! Definitely should win an award!!!!
so this is bloomberg's and manda burden's style of city planning. recklessly rezone the city and have countless over priced condos built everywhere and give the developers all sorts of tax breaks. now we have thousands of homeless families and thousands of empty luxury condos.
what a mess!? what happened to good city planning?
this is what happens when you have a billionaire mayor and a wealthy socialite planning a city of over 8 million people. did they think all 8 million plus were well off and working on wall street? what a joke!
This is only the beginning.
Wait until all the new taxes come. Wait until the real shoe to the bubble pop finally drops.
Pal(#5), I agree with you 100%!
I'm so disgusted by this.
i blame rent control
Yay, let's be forced to re-elect Bloomberg for a 3rd term, maybe by the time it's u we'll have $10 subway rides. Do you think when all of these wall street jobs that have been lost, and the people wind up homeless, ones who used to be cummy with bloomberg and hit him up for a buck while slmping in some crner of the subway trying to stay warm, he'll help em out?? Doubt it!! Everyone has gone on for far too long about the wonderful things bloomberg has done for this city, BULL SH!T, we need a mayor, not a f'ing show off who is out only to impress himself and others in his tax bracket, which is a lot less since all the mess he's created since being here. He's no beter than Bush, when will he admit defeat?? or will he just continue to sweep it under the carpet while continuing to waste more of our money on things we DON'T NEED??
Did anyone se the cover pic on the NYT yesterday, about the fold, kids in Tanzania.
I have been on the community board of my local homeless shelter
I can't blame Bloomberg or rent control, the homeless problem has been here along time. I know this article focuses on families, but the real issue is that many homeless are mentally ill. And many of them are self medicating with illegal drugs and booze. These are hard people to help.
My point is that the problem is way more complicated than getting enough money to give people homes. Even the weathiest among us have trouble dealing with mental illness, whether it be yours or a loved one.
There are great programs, I have spent time working the Doe fund. But they focus on helping people that are older and have burned all their bridges.
good article. what is so great about the picture?
Simple solution: Kick the drunks and drug addicts out of the shelters. Working families make up only a tiny percentage of the "homeless."