Officials say 59,548 people slept in homeless shelters in New York City last night, including 23,542 children. The staggering numbers from the Department of Homeless Services reinforce the need to do more to find permanent housing for these 12,985 families and 13,108 single men and women. Mayor de Blasio says combating homelessness is one of his administration's top priorities. So, what's being done?
De Blasio wants to convert a Holiday Inn in Maspeth, Queens into a 110-room adult-only shelter. But a lawsuit by local elected officials and protests from residents has left the deal in limbo. Tonight, those residents plan to rally in front of the hotel and then take buses to demonstrate outside the Brooklyn home DHS Commissioner Steven Banks.
And earlier this week, NY1 learned exclusively of a voluntary DHS program that's tried to move almost 10,000 people out of shelters and out of the state entirely. Under the plan, the City provides $1,200 in taxpayer money to provide furniture and four months of rent for homeless individuals and families to permanently move to places with lower costs of living, like New Jersey, Florida, Georgia, and Oklahoma.
Do you support a program that uses tax dollars to pay the rent and provide a furniture allowance to move people who are homeless out of New York City? What's your reaction to the protest from Maspeth residents who don't want a homeless shelter in their neighborhood? Would you welcome one in yours? How is the de Blasio administration doing when it comes to combating homelessness?
Kimberly’s Thoughts
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us tonight. This is always a difficult topic to react to. The City is in the midst of a heartbreaking homeless crisis. It is evident to everyone living here that something needs to be done to help those less fortunate. I am almost always in support of creating more affordable housing and allocating for improved shelter situations. With that said, I do understand why the residents of Maspeth have concerns about another shelter opening in their area. As council member Elizabeth Crowley has pointed out, Maspeth already has two shelters in the neighborhood. Adding another WILL evidently change the character of the neighborhood. As Crowley has also said, Maspeth is not equipped to handle such a large concentration of households.
With that said, I agree with many of the viewers who pointed out that in some neighborhoods, the community does not have a say at all. So, what makes the Maspeth residents different? One viewer from Harlem pointed out tonight that shelters have just become a part of “Harlem’s culture.” She asked how the City would react if suddenly all Harlem residents began staging mass protests. Would they care? Would they even negotiate? Probably not. That’s because it’s just built into our City’s culture that shelters belong there. Why though? As one resident we spoke to pointed out last month, “communities of political power don’t get shelters in their neighborhood.” That is very, very sad – but also true.
Your thoughts posted below.
Viewer E-mails
What these folks need is a job that pays a decent wage. Most are working 3 jobs & still can't afford housing.
Jeanne
Jamaica
This story is always a sad subject to discuss. Last night they had someone
bragging about this beautiful Atlantic Yards project story was going to be bigger
and will take over the city from Rockefeller Center.
This is outright ridiculous saying that the Center will no longer be a go to
place in New York anymore after this god forsaken new city will be built.
They did mention that they were going to build apartments and of course
us basket people aren't even a thought in their bright minds.
The amount will be somewhere near 95 mill and won't be ready until 2025
Oh boy we are going down the road again. What happened to the trolleys?
Once again so many slept in shelters and what about all the others that slept
in the streets and parks.
This is outrageous and in my neighborhood they are still putting glue in the
mailboxes and that's been going on and off since the catholic holidays of 2015.
The whole city is just filth now. So much for all the bright ideas and promises
of these politicians.
maxxiee
mp
Ask Mayor De Bum, he created this mess as a Columbia grad. Homelessness will be his legacy just as ISIS is Obama's legacy. Og course life in NYC would b better if he didn't turn the Rivington House AIDS Hospice into a lump sum distribution for his financial supporters, he the man of the "people."
David, Brooklyn
Let NYS help. It was Mario Cuomo who started this. Send them upstate to Albany or Westchester. Do not dump our problems on other states. If NYS and NYC government cannot figure this out then they are dumber that I thought.
Roscoe
Park Hill
No, I do not support this use of our tax dollars to help homeless relocate to other states.
Why don't Gov Cuomo, Mayor DeBlaio, and other elected officials make NY State and NYC a place with lower costs of living?
I am tired of living in a "people's republic." Sal #2 Flushing, NY
I applaud the residents of Maspeth. They are hardworking, taxpaying home owners who worked for what they have. The DeBlasio administration shows utter contempt and arrogance toward such people. Open a shelter in Park Slope.
Frances
East Village
I would like to ask the residents of Maspeth if and for whom they voted for during the 2013 mayoral election. That election had the lowest voter turnout in New York City history and so we got DiBlasio. These shelters are a gift to the neighborhoods from Mr. DiBlasio. If you don't vote based on the issues, this is what happens. If you don't vote or don't vote the issues, your quality of life will pay the price.
Angela
Bay Ridge, Brooklyn
I live in Windsor Terrace and the protestors went right by my house they were escorted by Police in an orderly fashion hopefully they will get some resolution to this issue
Susan
My name is Felix from Richmond Hill. I agree with the residents of Maspeth. Homelessness should not be a societal problem.It is an individual problem. Mayor Debalasio has removed the motivation for personal responsibility from the lives of thousands of people. He has created the mindset that the government is responsible for their personal fate. Mayor Bloomberg was Mayor for 12 years. Where were all these homeless people? Think about it.
Felix
We have a lot of s shelters in Manhattan. Their are shelters in every borough what makes those residents in queens different than the rest of New Yorkers. I don't really want a shelter in my neighborhood but you have to answer the call for need . The demand for shelter for the homless is needed. I think they just don't want the ethnic type that the shelter would bring. If it was women's domestic violence shelter I don't think they would protest so much.
Sonja from Spanish Harlem
For those who may not be aware, giving homeless people money to relocate to another area has been a regular practice by elected officials in every U.S. State. It's cheaper to relocate homeless people rather then house them in a residential building, so don't expect this practice to end anytime soon.
Kevin
Staten Island
If these greedy 1% ers had kept our wages at 1970's level at minimum our jobs would pay $22/hr. This is why so many homeless work and can't afford a home
Merritt in Flatiron
First, I will say that I pray never to be homeless. With that said, I feel sympathy for those who are homeless by no fault of their own, like fire or natural disaster. Homeless veterans need help too. If those folks are placed in the Holiday Inn, then yes, they should be allowed. But single mothers under 30 with 3 kids, they can go to Newark!
And yes, I would be ok with a homeless shelter in my neighborhood. But I wonder how the Hasidics would feel about that! LOL
Big Rosie in Kensington, Brooklyn.
I have two main points to make:
1) I have lived in Hamilton Heights since 1997 and we had a halfway house a few blocks south of me for many years. In fact, Joel Steinberg was assigned there after his release from prison. The site was expanded to include a homeless transitional building a few years ago. I have never experienced any problems with the site(s).
2) I disagree with the caller that stated that developers should not be forced to provide affordable housing. Affordable housing is all our issue as we too may be facing reduced incomes and higher rents. Secondly, lower income neighborhoods have overwhelmingly been forced to be the site of these sites and they too have kids that should be protected as well. We all need to share in this issue.
Robert
Hamilton Heights
As a Maspeth resident who works in Tribeca, I wonder why high income neighborhoods don't have homeless shelters, stop dumping on Queens!
Yudelka, Maspeth
This shelter should be built next to the worst Mayor in the history of New York City. Shelter users should be screened for mental illnesses this is not done and we end up with problems in our neighborhood. I live in Woodside NYCHA and we have lots of working families and then you the ones with multiple mental issues that live here and create lots of problems for everyone around then. Maspeth is a great neighborhood and they have lovers homes and that is not the right area for a shelter. Mercedes
The residents are OK with shelters in poor neighborhoods but not in their pearly white middle class neighbor. This is genification that we in our poor neighborhoods see everyday. There goes the neighborhood. Cal in brooklyn.
I know there are lots of reasons for homelessness, and it is not an easy problem to solve. But there's some percent of people - I wish like they have scared straight programs for criminals, there could be a scared straight program for homeless. Don't have 2 kids, stay with your partner, stay in school, be smart about keeping a job. And also raising the minimum wage isn't the solution, it just raises the bar for people to have to meet to be valuable to their employer.
Rhett
L.E.S.
Do Maspeth residents have the right to protest the proposed homeless shelter? YES THEY DO! And this idea of moving the homeless out of state ISN'T a good idea! The problem is they don't want the homeless or the poor to live among the rich! Well that's too bad, because morally and Biblically speaking, Jesus Christ said: "You'll always have the poor among you"! And no, every community SHOULDN'T have a homeless shelter in them! Why this ISN'T also a good idea is because the majority of those who are homeless are by their own choosing, namely lifestyle habits of drug and alcohol abuse in which they place emphasis on their lifestyle habits over paying their rents!! The city SHOULDN'T be forcing these kinds of ilks into these proposed homeless shelters against will of the residents of those communities!! The city planners SHOULD come up with something better and I DON'T mean putting in NYCHA developments as keep doing!! Cecilia, East Williamsburg
There are plenty of closed schools and hospitals that they can turn into shelters which have can house an ample amount of homeless people. Denise
Richmond Hill Queens
I don't fault the Residents of Maspeth for protesting, However they are dealing with New York City Big Government who will do what they want.
New York City Government is incompetent this Administration and The Department of Homeless need a Policy Overheaul.
The First Step
The Adult Shelter requirements if it goes in the Neighborhood should have a No Drug History Requirement. Adults should be sent to separate Shelters
Removal of Requirement to Apply For Welfare especially if they have a tax paying history ( Yes Discimination is Good)
Stop Breaking up Families to Promote Single Mother for Teenagers
The Hotel should be demolished or converted into Apartments for the Homeless
A Complete freeze on Rent below 800 dollars- Why are we using Taxpayer dollars to transfer people to Binghamton or Newark(Newark is a killing zone)
A Complete freeze on Evictions regardless of Holdover Cases if they don't own 5 months rent The Case should not be Scheduled
A Freeze on Turning over City Property to Private Developers
Take the decision of accepting Families into The Shelters out of the DHS Lawyers Hands
My Personal Experience I was Domestic Violence Victim and The Lawyer did not want to take my family in
Remove Credit Requirements for Rental and Home Purchase in New York State.
Millions of City Resident get rejected for housing and Renting because of Credit
Lower the Water and Power Taxes in New York City for Residential Homes or Homeowners with a Salary below 200,000
I sick and tired of the Complaining of People who invade Tenants Privacy because they cant afford the City Water Bills
This is Start
These Solutions will never Happened
59,000 + homeless people......from how many states? I can't for one NY minute believe they are all New Yorker's.
Our mayor will not be happy until he destroys every solid middle class neighborhood, specifically Maspeth where he did not get the votes he wanted. Many (not all) homeless are living off the benefits which are funded by all of us taxpayer citizens. They continue to have children which increases their benefits. I have not witnessed any homeless person who is willing to get a job and attempt to join the real world and pay their way.
Every state should be responsible for their own.
Kim
Middle Village
Why don't all the residents of Maspeth move since they have the MEANS and let all the homeless move to Maspeth? Then they will know the feeling of displacement.
Niecey
I moved to maspeth to get away from busy streets and a nice quiet area. Homeless shelters should be put in more crowded areas like Manhattan. I hear people calling in making this a race issue and that excuse is used for everything these days. It's a shame.
Eddie from Queens.
I live next door to a homeless shelter in Hell’s kitchen for many years.
There are at least 3 nights a week that the police, fire department or ambulances are called to this block.
There was a stabbing a couple of months ago in the shelter and the perpetrator ran into a restaurant across the street.
The block was closed and press were everywhere.
There has to be homeless shelters but no one wants them next door.
if i have to live next to one then other people must as well.
Maspeth get over yourself!! its your turn!!
Karl in Times Square
My name is Marc, I am a native New Yorker, I am all about affordable housing but when Landlords give us tenants a rent hike with today's economy they expect us to pay... What happened to rent stablization? So I say yes to homeless shelters
He’s doing a terrible job. In one year my neighborhood has gone downhill. More people crashing in the street. The intersection of 23rd & Eighth has become very bad.
This evening there were three man-3!-passed out on the sidewalk next to the RiteAid on 24th & Eighth. There are panhandlers everywhere. Get people off the streets and get them the help they need!
Janine,
Chelsea