NY homeless shelters to get tougher with single adults - make them show why not w fam or friends

[Liberal_in_LA]

City Alters Homeless Shelters Policy .

New York City officials said Friday that they won't allow single adults into homeless shelters unless they show they have no other housing options, a shift in policy that advocates promised to challenge in court.

The Department of Homeless Services plans to begin implementing the plan on Nov. 14. Single adults looking to enter shelters will first undergo questioning to determine whether they could live with family or friends, said Seth Diamond, the department's commissioner. A similar policy has been in place for families for 16 years, he said.

"The shelter system really should be for the people who don't have other viable options," Mr. Diamond said. "If you have a mother or friend who can provide another option, than that is better than living in the shelter system."

Steve Banks, attorney-in-chief of the Legal Aid Society, said he believes the new policy violates a 1981 consent decree that established New York City's modern shelter system. Mr. Banks said lawyers will ask a judge to strike down the city's new policy.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203804204577018173089749992.html

[JI7]

1. if they did have other options wouldn't they have used those before the homeless shelter ?

or is there more to this ?

[AngryOldDem]

6. Depends.

I have known homeless people who say flat out that they would rather stay at the shelter than with family. And there are families who say they'd rather see their relative in a shelter than in their own homes.

The goal is, ultimately, to get people out of shelters and into independent lives. But when they come to a shelter in a time of crisis, the door should be open.

[blueamy66]

8. We just went thru this.

First my guy's bro wanted to stay homeless, so we'd just put him up in a hotel room every week and feed him good (he's in another state).

2 weeks later, he decided that he no longer wanted to be homeless or go to jail anymore. So we forked out $200 and sent him back to live with his sister, who agreed to take him in. We couldn't have him here, as my guy travels every week and he wouldn't allow his bro to be with me here alone.

Yes, some just like not having responsibilities...which I just cannot fathom.

[valerief]

2. I'm sure many would not be homeless if they had jobs. But the rich need to hoard their money.

And buy luxury items. No money for jobs.

[CoffeeCat]

3. Sad...

I'm sure the homeless-shelter workers are just doing their jobs. There are most likely
a deluge of families that need shelter, and this is causing the crisis.

What's sad is that if someone ends up in a homeless shelter, it's likely that they have no
friends or family who can help them. How do these people expect these single homeless
people to respond, "Yes, My mother lives down the street, but I don't like her landlord. And
yes, my friend Bob lives on the upper east side--but he's got a cat and I can't stand cats."

It's a homeless shelter. These people are homeless and desperate.

End of story.

[no_hypocrisy]

4. Up untiil last winter, Bloomberg sent police around to the homeless

and made them go to homeless shelters despite their protestations that the streets were safer.

[alphafemale]

5. ok...yeah....let us heap some more shame and humiliation upon you.

That's just what you need.

[flying rabbit]

7. How the hell do you "show"

that you don't have family and friends to stay with?

[Horse with no Name]

9. Well you see it's like this

you don't have to really "prove" it...because there really isn't a whole lot of proof...but, before you can have that slice of bread and warm cot...you MUST admit that you have nobody else in the world that gives a fuck about you.

It's the humiliation and dehumanizing...and one more reason that will keep some from seeking shelter.:(