Mayor de Blasio defended his administration's efforts to combat homelessness during a wide-ranging and spirited Q&A with reporters today. When asked about community protests over plans to convert a hotel in Maspeth, Queens into a shelter, de Blasio said "If people in Maspeth think they cannot have responsibility for a problem that is their problem, I will happily stare them down. We will put a roof over people's heads."
The Mayor's comments came hours after five elected officials from Queens stood on the steps of City Hall to protest the Department of Homeless Services for its "poor handling" of the homeless crisis. They urged the DHS to enact more long-term solutions to permanently house New Yorkers instead of "warehousing" them into an "inadequate space." DHS reports 59,874 people slept in municipal shelters last night, including 23,566 children.
Is the de Blasio administration doing a poor job of handling the homeless crisis? What ideas do you have to get people out of shelters and into affordable housing? What's your reaction to the Mayor promising to "stare down" residents who oppose his ideas? In general, do you feel like Mayor de Blasio listens to the concerns of communities in the five boroughs?
Kimberly’s Thoughts
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us tonight. As I always write, we need more affordable housing and options for dealing with the homeless crisis. With that said, I don’t feel it’s appropriate for the City to condemn the residents who are protesting in Maspeth. If they don’t welcome a shelter opening in their neighborhood, that is their prerogative. It is incredibly unprofessional of the Mayor to threaten “staring” people down.
Your thoughts posted below.
Viewer E-mails
He is doing a horrible job with the homeless. He needs to look at long term solutions and permanent housing instead of pop up shelters everywhere. His proposed shelters meet so much resistance because they aren't the solution and everyone seems to be aware of that except him!
Cheryl from Richmond Hill
Homelessness has been a problem for a long time in NYC, and solutions are long overdue. I applaud the Mayor for at least trying to do something about it. It's a shame that communities are protesting; treating the homeless as unwelcome vermin, rather than human beings in need of a helping hand.
Barri
Jackson Heights
Homelessness has proliferated under De Blasio. Anyone on thee R Train will know first hand
Tick tock Tick tock DEBALSIO is done
David
Mayor de Blasio is only going to be a one term Mayor, he's out of City Hall in 2017.... Instead of converting hotels to homeless shelters, more affordable housing should be built in this city.... Some people can't afford the high rent prices and put food on the table for their families, it's either one or the other and they don't want to see their families go hungry or live on the streets... It's sad when children are living on the streets or in the shelters... The Mayor don't listen to us when we send him an email and we tell him about a homecare worker that verbally abused a disabled client, the homecare worker shouldn't be on the job if she don't know how to treat people... We the people of the City are supposed to be respected....
Herman
Upper West Side
I think this is a very arrogant mayor and not transparent with people of color. I don't believe anything he says because he is campaigning and wants to stay in the mansion
Charlene
DeBlasio's insufferable arrogance and his contempt for anyone who opposes him, regardless of how meritorious their opposition may be, is going to be his downfall. He really is worse than Bloomberg when it comes to arrogance. Unfortunately, I don't think he is anywhere as intelligent as Bloomberg, not that I admired Bloomberg. One-term mayor, for sure.
Frances
East Village
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 a homeless shelter then other people must as well.
Maspeth get over yourself!! its your turn!! Karl in Times Square
I live in the west village, in the west 4th and 6th avenue area. I have seen a huge increase since Mayor DeBlasio took over. There is also the problem of mentally challenged homeless people living on the street and begging for money .
Something needs to be done.
Kathy
why not re gutter out old in used housing and re build them into housing.
motels and hotels are not the answer housing is.
Helen
As a mom of two teens with Autism enough is not being done.We have been in a DHS shelter for 3 years.
The Linc voucher is not sufficient, and landlords have turned the other cheek.
Waiting lists, lotteries and building more shelters is not the solution. Dee
If the mayor has been working on the homeless crisis , I cant tell...I'm not upset with homelessness like the people over in Queens protesting against building a shelter who in all honestly should be ashamed pf themselves...i feel not enough is done to even prevent them from getting to that status! I work full time and i live in new york i know the struggle and i know im just an unfortunate crisis away grom being homeless myself people need to work to prevent and not turn them away!!! Angelina from Parkslope Brooklyn......
As a long term volunteer in
Many church shelters
I can tell you
These men & women would be happy to move out of the city with subsidies!
The City does not have sufficient affordable housing Does not have enough SROs Does have enough shared housing!
Hotels & City Shelters
Are not a Solution!
Christina
Upper Eastside
While a lack of affordable housing is at the root of the homeless crisis, there are systemic issues that are exacerbating the problem. New York's promise of shelter for everyone in need lures people from other places to New York, one of the most expensive cities in the country. With over 50% of adults in family homeless shelters lacking a high school diploma or a GED, their chances of finding work in this city that would enable them to live independently is not likely. Even if the minimum wage goes to $15 an hour, employers still look for the high school diploma, yet homeless shelter residents cannot be forced to get their GED. Secondly, the "don't ask, don't tell" policy as it relates to undocumented people entering the homeless shelters prevents us from knowing if the homeless crisis is not, perhaps, an immigration crisis, as well. People from other countries are coming to New York with large families and entering the homeless shelters. The issue is complicated and multi-faceted. Too much to address in a short email.
Klea
Maspeth
It was just published that Brooklyn is the most expensive place to live in The Country..is that DiBlasio's fault? Families are falling through the cracks. The city was sold off in 3 terms of Bloomberg and is still being milked by heartless developers. The Mayor has to do what he can in the short term, hones don't pop up over night..Maspeth needs to find their conscience and stop making poor people feel less than Human. Nicole, East Flatbush
I know that probably most homeless people are victims of bad luck, greedy landlords, etc., but what is it with these able-bodied young men and women with the dogs and cardboard signs pleading for pity? They look like they could find a job or move to another state. Maybe, they came from other states. I suspect that a lot of them are drug addicts and are not interested in getting clean. They are like the "hippies" of the 60s.
Vickie, StyTown
I do not blame Mayor De Blasio for our current homeless situation. Bloomberg set the system up in such a way that this city is only affordable for those who are financially secure. Unless we develop programs to assist regular New Yorkers who work to sustain this city, we will continue to have a problem with homelessness. Rent is simply unaffordable for the average resident and reality is most of us are one paycheck from the streets. There is a disconnect in this city between the price of rent & our pay checks. The governor needs to help with this problem and stop worrying about beautifying bridges right now! Why not put conditions on those who are buying entire neighborhoods and pushing the average New Yorker out? People in this city are facing desperate times and government does not care to look at the core of this issue.
Working poor
Clinton Hills Brooklyn
The mayor is dumping hotel shelters all over Queens all owned by Patel. Crime is up harassment is up. They're blockbusting Tara, Maspeth
I think people insult and scapegoat the homeless out of fear. If people are homeless because of a moral flaw, then everyone else is safe. If homelessness comes from external factors, like high rents and stagnant wages, then we're all vulnerable, and it's a lot more comforting to blame a victim than it is to fight the status quo. We trade empathy for emotional comfort. De Blasio is trying, but nothing he does can alter a situation so interconnected to national economic and political policy. Jordan, Flushing