Posted on December 10, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone As the tragedy of mass homelessness persists in our city, the Coalition continues to urge elected officials to adopt the proven housing-based solutions that will end the crisis once and for all. On Wednesday, the Coalition and The Legal Aid Society presented testimony before the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare about the efficacy of current homelessness-reduction strategies and provided recommendations for further actions. The full testimony can be read here. We commend the de Blasio administration for his efforts thus far, including reinstating federal housing priority for homeless families, creating new permanent housing subsidies, and committing to the City’s share of 30,000 units of supportive housing. These policies will undoubtedly make a difference in the lives of thousands of homeless New Yorkers. However, the City must continue to work diligently to make sure progress continues to be made. Specifically, permanent housing placements must continue to remain at levels that match the critical need. The City must: Continue to place at least 2,500 families into NYCHA and Section 8 units; Set aside at least 10 percent of the Mayor’s affordable housing plan units for homeless individuals and families; Step up enforcement of landlords who discriminate against voucher holders; and Work diligently to return cluster site units to affordable, permanent housing. Additionally, the City must ensure that the shelter system responds to the needs of homeless individuals and families; and that our most vulnerable fellow New Yorkers living on the streets are treated with dignity and provided with real, permanent housing options.
