Study finds general public consensus on solutions that lean toward prevention, rental assistance and supportive housing

In its new report entitled “Compassion, Concern and Conflicted Feelings: New Yorkers on Homelessness and Housing,” Public Agenda finds New Yorkers support many of the policies and initiatives already in place for New York City’s homeless population. Survey participants overwhelmingly agreed the City should focus on homelessness prevention, provide rental assistance and supportive housing. This data reinforces public support for the innovative policies and initiatives being implemented as part of Mayor Bloomberg’s five-year plan to end chronic homelessness, by reducing the number of people on the streets and in shelters by two-thirds by 2009.

“For too long, policies and practices around the country related to homelessness have been tantamount to putting a Band-Aid on a gunshot wound. This independent research tells us we are very much on track with the direction of our programs,” said DHS Commissioner Robert V. Hess. “New Yorkers see the importance of moving beyond a system of temporary shelters to one that includes comprehensive prevention services and concrete options for rental assistance and permanent housing.”

Key findings include:

• 88% favor placing homeless people who need additional assistance in supportive housing
• 83% support rental subsidies for regular apartments
• 85% approve of having their tax dollars pay for housing for the homeless
• 48% believe NYC government’s main priority should be intervening to keep individuals and families in permanent housing, with shelters only as a last resort
• 96% say that benefits for the homeless should be conditional on such things as getting training, employment, and/or substance abuse and mental health treatment (72% strongly agree and 24% somewhat agree)

DHS Initiatives - Prevention
HomeBase is a DHS prevention program that was a finalist for the prestigious Harvard Innovations in Government Award.  Since its inception in September 2004, the program has served over 6,300 families and individuals, with 94% having remained in homes and out of shelter. The program has also served over 8,200 children, helping to stabilize their families within their own communities and prevent children from experiencing the trauma of shelter. HomeBase is set to expand citywide on July 1, 2007.

Rental Subsidies
Since 2004, nearly 10,000 families and individuals have moved out of shelter and into their own homes through Housing Stability Plus, the City’s current rental subsidy program. Less than 4% have returned.

Supportive Housing
As part of Mayor Bloomberg’s five year plan to end chronic homelessness, the Mayor committed to funding and developing 12,000 units of supportive housing along with State, Federal and private partners. The New York/New York III agreement calls for the creation of 9,000 supportive housing units, along with 3,000 additional units being produced by HPD. This agreement will result in an over 50 percent increase of supportive housing units. Currently, there are 20,000 units of supportive housing available today in New York City. The first NY/NY III units became available on January 1, 2007.

Dispelling Myths
While 29% of the New Yorkers surveyed believe nearly all homeless shelters are unsafe and unsanitary, this is no longer the case. Since 1997, violations related to uncleanliness have gone from 1530 to just six in adult shelters citywide. Today, shelters are clean and habitable.

DHS employs a staff of 350 Peace Officers who maintain a safe atmosphere for clients and staff. Peace officers are assigned to specific shelters and deployed where needed. In 2006, they reported 313 crimes and made 306 arrests in DHS’ directly run shelters, in coordination with the NYPD.

Definitional Disconnect of Who is Homeless in NYC
The typical New Yorker thinks of a homeless person as being predominately male, mentally ill and living on the street. In fact, the majority of people served by the Department of Homeless Services are single mothers with children who have not come from the streets, but from “doubled up” living conditions with family or friends. Many more categories of people receive and qualify for “homeless services” in New York City than the public would likely assume based on this definitional disconnect.

The full report is available at:
http://www.publicagenda.org/research/research_reports_details.cfm?list=105