Posted on December 8, 2020 by Laura Mascuch, Kristin Miller, and Shelly Nortz in New York Daily News New York Daily News, By Laura Mascuch, Kristin Miller, and Shelly Nortz Amid the dangers of another spike in COVID-19 cases, we know this much to be true: The virus continues to disproportionately impact our most vulnerable neighbors, including those without access to safe, private spaces to call home. To best serve homeless New Yorkers, we need a strong commitment to create housing that not only provides temporary relief, but offers a permanent solution to their plight. New York has already shown how we can do this: In 2016, Gov. Cuomo made a historic pledge via the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) to create 20,000 new supportive apartments across New York over 15 years. That commitment came with guaranteed funding for only the first five years and 6,000 units, and that money has now run out — just when the need is greatest.
