Care For the Homeless

A Chance for Review, Reflection and New Start Yesterday (5/28), Seth Diamond, the NYC Commissioner of Homeless Services, announced his resignation to accept a post in the Cuomo administration. Commissioner Diamond led the agency at a particularly trying time and had a reputation for hard work and long hours. But like any changing of the guard, his departure should be both a time to recognize his work and to reflect on policy. Care for the Homeless believes bad public policy decisions are the cause of modern day homelessness, and better policies can end homelessness as we know. Perhaps the biggest driver of modern homelessness was cuts in federal funding for affordable housing. But New York City can and must lead the way to better policies to prevent and end homelessness. Consider this: For decades the City targeted one-third of its federal housing resources – mostly public housing units and Section 8 rental vouchers – to placing homeless people in permanent housing. In 2004,

Sunday, Care for the Homeless participated in the annual AIDS Walk NYC through Central Park. Walking with staff, clients and volunteers, we joined more than 30,000 other walkers on the street of Manhattan. We walked to take a stand for the homeless New Yorkers we serve who are dealing with the disease. Care for the Homeless works with homeless HIV-positive individuals and people living with AIDS everyday.  The importance of HIV education can not be understated, and our Health Education and Social Services teams work diligently to ensure our clients are tested as well as informed on how to stay safe from contracting HIV. Find out more about our HIV services HERE . For more pictures from our walk, check out our Facebook page and be sure to join us next year in walking and raising money to find a cure.

“ Homelessness can be a virtual death sentence for a person living with HIV/AIDS .”  More Than A Home – How Affordable Housing for New Yorkers with HIV/AIDS Will Prevent Homelessness, Improve Health and Reduce Costs”, Report from VOCAL-NY and the Community Development Project at the Urban Justice Center, May 17, 2013. A new study released last week by activist group VOCAL-NY and the Urban Justice Center called for limiting the rent-to-income ratio for poor people living with HIV/AIDS to no more than 30%. Those who follow housing issues know they aren’t alone; spending no more than 30% of income on housing is HUD’s definition of affordable housing. Care for the Homeless clients, staff and volunteers braved the elements on Sunday to raise the profile on AIDS issues and raise money for AIDS programs. But in New York City’s “independent living” rental assistance program for low-income people living with HIV/AIDS, administered by the city HIV/AIDS Services Administration (

Care for the Homeless is pleased to support our partners in the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing , Habitat for Humanity and United to End Homelessness , who are sponsoring their annual “ Blessed Night Out ” program. It’s a program that offers something for anyone concerned about homelessness and the lack of affordable housing in New York City, and invites us all to “take a stand to build the Blessed City together.”  In 1988, 60 people experiencing homeless encamped in City Hall Park for 200 days calling attention to homelessness in New York City and the need for affordable housing. Those 60 pioneer advocates accomplished what the set out to do: focusing attention and pushing for action. But the need today, with 55,000 people – including about 22,000 children – sleeping daily in city homeless shelters, is even greater than 25 years ago. The May 30 th program includes an Interfaith Gathering for Housing Justice from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at St. Paul’s Chapel,

Join us at Brad's in the Village tonight for great company and support for a great cause! See you then!

In April, The Health Education Department focused on Alcohol Awareness, Weight Management and Physical Activity. Health Educator Gabriela Gonzales Movies! Movies! Movies! were the method of choice for our Alcohol Awareness Campaign for both teens and adults. Health Educator Gabriela Gonzales screened “The Social Network” with her teen groups, encouraging discussion about responsible use of alcohol. At Susan’s Place, clients were treated to a 4 part movie series beginning with the movie “Flight." Care for the Homeless’ substance abuse counselor joined the Health Education team in leading discussion on alcohol and other substance use, abuse and recovery. At Susan’s Place and Peter Jay Sharp Center for Opportunity, the Health Educators got clients moving! The women of Susan’s Place were split into two groups, slow walkers and fast walkers. Each individual was given a pedometer and encouraged to walk in “The Tortoise vs. the Hare Walking Competition”. Each individual’

Care for the Homeless is co-sponsoring one of City Limits “Tackling Poverty Discussion Series,” about homelessness, shelters and the community. It’s free, but you have to RSVP in advance (see below). Collaborators in the event, in addition to Care for the Homeless, include BronxWorks, Institute for Children, Poverty & Homelessness (ICPH), and the Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing. The program is scheduled for Thursday, May 16, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m., and will be followed by a free networking reception celebrating the launch of City Limits’ Bronx Bureau. Both the forum and reception will be held at the Bronx Museum of the Arts located at 1040 Grand Concourse in the Bronx. The event program will include comments by Scott Auwarter of BronxWorks, Ralph da Costa Nunez of the ICP, Robin Hood Foundation Managing Director Eric Weingartner and Camella Pinkney-Price of the Bronx Borough President’s office. City Limits Editor Jarrett Murphy is moderating the program.