Posted on April 12, 2010 by MARY BROSNAHAN We’ve seen lots of bad ideas, but this one might take the cake. Mayor Bloomberg is once again planning to charge rent in the city’s homeless shelters. At a time of record homelessness and foreclosures, thousands of homeless families, veterans, even the mentally ill and disabled, would have to pay up to half of any available income they have – or get tossed out onto the street. We can stop the Mayor’s absurd plan — if we act now. The Coalition for the Homeless and the Working Families Party are fighting to pass a state budget law that would prohibit the Mayor from charging rent to the homeless. It could be just days before the law is put to a vote, so we don’t have much time. Send a message to Albany leaders asking them to block the Mayor’s misguided plan — then forward this to everyone you know: http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1545&tag=cfth What’s the Mayor’s logic? They say charging rent will incentivize the homeless to find housing on their own – as if anyone with options would stay in the city’s overcrowded and often dangerous shelters. In fact, the Mayor’s plan would have the opposite effect. As one woman who makes $8.40 an hour as a cashier told the New York Times: “I’m trying to save money so I can get out of here. I don’t want to be in the shelter forever.” The reality is that the Mayor’s plan would be devastating for thousands of homeless New Yorkers who are trying to rebuild their lives. Albany has the power to stop this plan dead in its tracks. Some legislators are proposing to do just that, but they need our help. Sign the petition, then forward this to other New Yorkers: http://action.workingfamiliesparty.org/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1545&tag=cfth Thanks, Mary Brosnahan Coalition for the Homeless
