Post Type: ARTICLES
Homelessness in New York City has reached the highest level since the great depression of 1930. New York coalition for Homeless released data that show how alarming the homeless situation is in the City. Each night more than 60,000 people including more than 22,000 children experience homelessness. Currently 53,615 homeless men, women and children utilize a New York City municipal shelter bed. In addition, another 5000 adults and children sleep in other public and private shelters and thousands more sleep on the streets or in other public spaces. The alarming number of homeless people in New York City has risen by 73%. This is an epidemic.
Many factors come into play, which contributes to being homeless. The factors range from domestic violence, unsafe buildings, financial instability of both the unemployed, underemployed and evictions.
Affordable housing is scarce and rents are very high so eviction is the main cause that leads to homelessness. Mostly because low income family who are renting use more than 75% of their income to cover rent and utilities and are struggling to maintain. The minimum wage is low and rent is averaging over $1100 per one bedroom apartment.
There are a few programs in place that are in the preventive stages. These programs are geared towards helping families from losing their homes. ‘Homebase’ is one such program. As the name suggests, this is a preventive service, which assist individuals and families to overcome immediate housing issues that would have resulted in homelessness while also helping them develop plans for long term stability. This service also offers financial counseling and how to create a budget.
New York City Department of Homeless partner with many Non-profit organizations. While some of these organizations are for temporary solutions, there are other whose aim is to help alleviate the homeless crisis and transition families to permanent housing solutions. Organizations like: WIN focus on breaking the cycle of homelessness for women and children, Housing Bridge Project Renewal and Palladia Homes for the Homeless and The Bowery Mission.
The solution to this epidemic of homelessness is for more affordable housing and better wages. The current Mayor Bill de Blasio has recently signed a contract for over 200,000 affordable housing over the next 10 years.
Affordable housing median income guidelines should be revised to accommodate and set in perspective to the current minimum wage level. Rents continue to increase in New York City while wages seem to be stagnant. There must be a balance in the equation for the Homeless to rise above homelessness and gain back their basic human rights and dignity as well as a place to call home.
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June 9th, 2015 at 3:53 pm
It’s sad that so many people have to be homeless when there are so many different agencies in place with so called abilities to help. However instead of helping to prevent someone from becoming homeless these agencies seem to thrive off enabling homelessness. ..the workers at the agencies begin by belittling individuals, and asking them to provide things that had they been available to the individual they would by no means be homeless.
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