POLICY MATTERS

 A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC.
July 2017
Let's Discuss... How Can We End Homelessness?
Left: The plenary panel at our 2017 Policy Forum on Ending and Preventing Homelessness. Middle: NYC Public Advocate Letitia James speaking during the lunch reception. Right: Courtney Gross, Rosa Goldensohn, Zyphus Lebrun, and Jarrett Murphy speaking on our panel on media coverage of homelessness.
How can we end homelessness? This is a question that many people never ask because they do not believe that homelessness can end. At Care for the Homeless (CFH) we not only believe that it can end, but that with the right policies it can end in years, not decades. This was the focus of the "2017 Bobby Watts Policy Forum on Preventing and Ending Homelessness in New York City." The daylong event, sponsored by CFH and the MPA Program at LIU Brooklyn, featured presentations, panels and collaborative discussions on how to prevent and end homelessness in New York City with over 300 attendees including policy makers, academics, advocates and service providers, journalists and clients.

The forum opened with the NYC Social Services Commissioner, Steven Banks, who delivered inspiring remarks about current programs and services meant to decrease the number of homeless individuals and families in NYC. The luncheon address was delivered by New York City Public Advocate Letitia James and the CEO of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Bobby Watts (formerly Executive Director at CFH). James emphasized the need for constituents to stay engaged, speak up for those who cannot, and continue to put pressure on elected officials to end the homelessness crisis. Watts spoke about the importance of holding forums such as this one in order to bring pressing homelessness issues to the forefront and move the conversation towards effective policy recommendations.  Read more here.

Panelists discussed topics including the effective use of media by homelessness advocates, gaps in critical services for homeless and extremely poor people, programs needed to provide adequate housing, what government at the federal, state and local levels need to do to end homelessness and several other facets of homelessness, all focused on the idea that we can end homelessness with better policies. Throughout the day participants had the opportunity to ask questions leading to interesting discussions and sharing of ideas.

On behalf of the Policy and Advocacy team at Care for the Homeless, we thank the MPA Program at Long Island University Brooklyn for co-sponsoring the event and everyone who participated in the Forum. We are humbled by the overwhelming interest the program. Throughout the day we encouraged participants to submit their ideas for preventing and ending homelessness in our "suggestion box". We are currently compiling these suggestions and all suggestions from speakers and panelists throughout the Forum. When our "ideas list" is completed we will share it with all of the Forum participants and city policymakers, to continue the positive momentum towards ending homelessness. Please stay tuned. 

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Yes I, Care for Undocumented People Experiencing Homelessness
People often have misconceptions about what causes homelessness. Many people believe homelessness is usually caused by lack of ambition or an inability to manage money, but we know the problem is caused by larger often systemic issues. The leading causes in New York City include evictions, domestic violence, lack of available rental units for low income people, hospital bills and medical costs, a minimum wage that cannot support

New York City rents, and mental illness. There are other structural, but sometimes less noticed causes, such as the lack of local and federal investment in affordable housing, criminal records preventing people from gaining legitimate employment, and racism. Another factor that can lead to homelessness is being undocumented. Read more here.

Undocumented immigrants are not legally allowed to receive most government aid or assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps, or public assistance, with some emergency exceptions. Almost all federal, state and local voucher or rental subsidy programs have some requirement (for example, maintaining an open public assistance file) that precludes undocumented people from participating. Even after a person becomes a citizen, they are typically not eligible to apply for these benefits until they have  had citizenship for five years.  However, in 2007, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that 50% to 75% of undocumented adults in the U.S. work and file income taxes each year. According to political fact checking website,  Politifact.com,  undocumented workers pay $12 billion dollars in taxes annually, which is more than the entire state of New  Hampshire.

Undocumented people, especially in highly diverse cities like New York, represent a highly vulnerable and rising number of people experiencing homelessness. Unlike other members of this population, undocumented people are more likely to be overlooked due to stigmatized myths that surround them and the fact that many choose to stay under the radar for fear of deportation. The current political climate is making it increasingly difficult for nonprofit and governmental service providers to assist undocumented people due to the growing fear in many communities of being deported.  Read more here.

We can never end the modern day homelessness crisis in New York City as long as we essentially exclude undocumented people from programs to prevent and end homelessness.

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4th Annual Summer Solstice Success Celebration
  Audience cheering at our 2017 Summer Solstice Success Celebration
At the Care for the Homeless "Fourth Annual Summer Solstice Success Celebration" CFH recognized an outstanding group of people who have overcome incredible odds through hard work and perseverance to achieve success in things like obtaining and maintaining housing, pursuing difficult healthcare goals, finding stable employment, or achieving unusual advocacy success in fighting to prevent or overcome homelessness. Attendees to shared their story of success on the "Wall of Success" while enjoying food, music, and the company of their peers.

"One reason CFH holds the Summer Solstice Success Celebration so dear," according to Marcia Spector, Interim Executive Director of CFH, "is that CFH invented it to try to destigmatize people experiencing homelessness and provide a positive view of people who strive so hard under such difficulties to better their lives." She pointed out that other communities across the country are "picking up the celebration we invented" with observances growing to over 10 cities, and currently being promoted by the National Health Care for the Homeless Council with aspirations that the CFH inspired program, might become a summer solstice event across the country.  Read more here.

As in past years, the program included a full dinner meal for  anyone who wished t o partake, music and entertainment, and the "Wall of Success" where everyone was invited  to post their own success tatements. Dozens of attendees posted their own message of success. CFH client leader Mr. Garrett McMahan and his band "Three is Word" supplied the music. Read more here.

CFH's fourth annual Short Story of Success Writing Contest was won this year by Mr. Raymond West.  His essay, which he read, discussed his life experiences and continuing commitment to self-improvement and aiding others. You can read his short award-winning essay  here .

The Success Celebration is celebrated on the summer solstice, the longest, brightest day of the year, as a counter point to CFH's winter solstice event. On the winter solstice, the longest, darkest night of the year, CFH's Homeless Persons' Memorial Day program memorializes New Yorkers who died that year without housing. This year's Success Celebration was celebrated at Broadway Community, located at 601 W. 114 Street, at Broadway. Broadway Community, Inc. runs a soup kitchen at that location, and CFH operates a community health center offering primary health care there for unstably housed people.

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The Busy Advocate's July Calendar
Thur., July, 6th, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m., Care for the Homeless Job Recruitment Event, CFH will be hosting a recruiting event for the following positions: Dental Assistant (Part-Time), Health Information Associate, Licensed Practical Nurse, and Medical Assistants. If you or someone you know is interested, kindly contact our Human Resources Assistant Evelyn Lopez  [email protected]  to submit a resume and RSVP for the event, CFH Conference Room, 30 E 33rd St, Manhattan, NY. 

Tue., July, 11th, 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m., New York Housing Conference, YLC Summer Seminar Series: "Preservation through Inclusionary Housing,"  In 2016, the City enacted several changes to the Zoning Code including the little known Preservation Inclusionary Housing Program. This panel looks at this new program, with emphasis on how it works and policies it advances. NYU Furman Hall, room 216, 245 Sullivan St., New York, NY 10012  RSVP here . 

Sat., July 15th, 1:00 p.m. Picture the Homeless "Community Visioning"  Rally and BBQ, Picture the Homeless hosts an event in support of the proposed "Housing Not Warehousing" Act (which CFH has endorsed). The rally is at 3 city owned lots in East Harlem that have been vacant since the 1970s but could be re-purposed as affordable housing, 107-111 East 130th Street, New York, NY.

Sun., July 22nd - July 29th, "Our Homes, Our Voices: National Housing Week of Action,"  calls for advocates across the US to engage in activities aimed at increasing federal investment in affordable housing and community development.  Read more here.

Wed., July 26th, 12:30 p.m., CAB Client Leader Meeting,  CFH Conference Room, 30 E. 33rd Street, Manhattan, NY.

Wed., July 26th, 2:00 p.m., National Low Income Housing Coalition "Call-In-Day", CFH will participate in the National Low Income Housing Coalition call-in day as part of National Housing Week of Action mentioned above. Participants will call their Representatives to let them know there's a shortage of available housing units in New York city and around the country.  Learn more about the event here. 
 
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A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC. 

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