New York City Rethinks Shelter Standards

New york City Mayor Eric Adams’ management is piloting a controversial program aimed at holding shelter residents accountable, but critics fear it could lead to a surge in street homelessness. The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is proposing new rules under the banner of “Enhanced Client Placement Support” that would allow the city to deny shelter placement to adult residents who fail to maintain active public benefits cases, refuse housing placements, or repeatedly violate shelter rules.

The proposal surfaces as New york City grapples with a complex housing crisis exacerbated by an influx of migrants and a persistent shortage of affordable housing options.The city’s “Right to Shelter” law, a landmark 1981 consent decree, has been challenged in recent settlements as the city struggles to house everyone.

Councilmember Tiffany Caban (D-Queens) questioned DHS Commissioner Molly Park about the new policy during a City Council hearing. Park stated that the rule change would initially be implemented as a pilot program in 20 shelters, affecting roughly 3,000 individuals.

The new proposal, “is really designed to build a culture of accountability across DHS,” Park said. “When I say accountability, I’m talking about accountability for the agency, for providers, and for clients.”

Molly Park, DHS Commissioner

Park outlined a process involving multiple warnings and opportunities for residents to correct their behavior before facing expulsion. According to a draft copy of the policy, individuals could be temporarily ejected for at least 30 days, with exceptions made during extreme weather conditions. These rules would impact approximately 22,000 single adults and 4,200 adult families currently residing in DHS-overseen shelters.

While Park anticipates minimal discharges, stating, My anticipation is that we will have few, if any, discharges from shelter under the new policy. It is indeed really about building this culture of accountability,” homeless advocates are expressing serious concerns.

Homeless Advocates sound Alarm

Advocates argue that the stricter rules could backfire, pushing vulnerable individuals onto the streets and into the subway system. This move is controversial, especially considering the ongoing efforts to reduce public homelessness.

It makes no sense that they would be putting measures in place that are likely to result in more homeless New Yorkers ending up on the streets and in the subways, said Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless.

Dave Giffen, executive director of the Coalition for the homeless

Giffen, whose association reviewed the draft policy and provided feedback to DHS, further questioned the logic behind the initiative:

Given all the attention right now around how to reduce the number of people that have to sleep out in public places, why in god’s name would you put a policy in place that is going to result in the highest needs individuals, those that are having difficulties in adhering to these new policies, being sanctioned out of shelters?

Dave Giffen, executive director of the coalition for the Homeless

echoes of the Past: concerns of Retaliation and Bureaucratic Hurdles

joshua Goldfein, an attorney for the Legal Aid Society, which provides oversight of the city’s right to shelter based on the 1981 consent decree, recalls past attempts to sanction shelter residents under similar policies during Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s administration. Goldfein raised concerns about potential staff retaliation against residents and the failure to provide adequate care to those in need.

They tried to sanction [shelter residents] for what they characterize as failure to follow rules. Really what was happening was, they were failing to provide people with the care that they needed, Goldfein said. We also saw staff retaliate against clients who they didn’t want to work with anymore. So we’re very concerned about that as well.

Joshua Goldfein, attorney for the Legal Aid Society

The policy stipulates that residents could face expulsion after two instances of “gross misconduct,” defined as actions endangering health or safety or repeatedly disrupting shelter operations.Residents will recieve written warnings before facing eviction.

A spokesperson for the mayor, william Fowler, stated that Every shelter client is entitled to a safe surroundings on their path to self-sufficiency, and this pilot will help us achieve the high standard of care that clients want and deserve.

Deborah Berkman, director of the Shelter and economic Stability Project at the New York Legal Assistance Group, highlights the challenges faced by her clients, including the cancellation of public benefits due to clerical errors and bureaucratic obstacles in securing permanent housing. Berkman questions how stricter shelter rules would facilitate the transition to permanent housing.

The truth is every single one of my clients who is in shelter wants to transition to permanent housing. If given the tools to do so, every one of them would move, she said. To me it’s unfathomable that at this moment in time, we are, New York is taking steps to create more street homelessness.

Deborah Berkman, director of the Shelter and Economic Stability Project at the New York Legal Assistance Group

Counterarguments and Potential Solutions

While the Adams administration argues that the policy promotes accountability and self-sufficiency, critics contend that it punishes vulnerable individuals for circumstances frequently enough beyond their control. A potential counterargument is that the policy aims to prioritize shelter space for those actively seeking assistance and adhering to program requirements. However, this approach overlooks the underlying issues of poverty, mental health, and lack of affordable housing that contribute to homelessness.

Some possible solutions include:

• Increased funding for supportive housing programs that provide case management,mental health services,and substance abuse treatment.
• Streamlining the process for accessing public benefits and housing vouchers.
• Addressing the root causes of homelessness through job training, educational opportunities, and affordable childcare.
• Implementing “Housing First” models that prioritize getting people into permanent housing without preconditions.

Looking Ahead

The pilot program is set to begin soon. Its impact on shelter residents and the overall homelessness crisis will be closely monitored. The debate over stricter shelter rules underscores the ongoing tension between promoting individual responsibility and providing a safety net for the most vulnerable members of society.As New York City navigates this complex issue, it is indeed crucial to consider the long-term consequences of policy decisions and prioritize solutions that address the root causes of homelessness.