City Extends More Compassionate Shelter Policy for Homeless Families with Children
Jeff Foreman, Director of Policy
In recent years families experiencing homelessness, and
homeless advocates, have expressed concern and frustration with the
difficulties homeless families with children sometimes faced in gaining access
to the city’s shelter system. That’s why the Department of Homeless Services’ (DHS)
decision during the recent brutally cold winter season to waive some of the
eligibility requirements and admittance procedures during especially cold times
was greeted with such universal appreciation. In life-threatening weather, why
not show compassion to homeless families?
But why not show that compassion and concern all the time?
That’s exactly what deBlasio administration policymakers decided
to do last week. DHS Commissioner Gilbert Taylor and elected city Public
Advocate Letitia James jointly announced families with children who apply for
shelter and aren’t found immediately eligible would nonetheless be allowed to
stay the night. Commissioner Taylor, calling it the compassionate thing to do,
said “it gives them a moment to think about what the next morning will
bring.”
Public Advocate James, a long-time advocate for people
experiencing homelessness and vulnerable New Yorkers, applauded the new policy
as bringing “dignity to families.”
Often the reason families may be found ineligible is because
of a lack of information or documentation about where they had been staying.
The new policy avoids turning families out late in the day and allows adequate
time for appealing an initial decision or perhaps gathering sufficient
information.
We applaud Mayor deBlasio, Commissioner Taylor, Advocate
James and others involved in the new, compassionate policy. It’s the right
thing to do.
