Residents at Brooklyn Family Shelter Struggle Through Scorching Weather Posted on July 20, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in Pix11 As New Yorkers sweat through another scorching day, finding relief is first priority for many people. Whether it’s grabbing an icy, water or taking a dip in a city pool, Mayor Bill de Blasio says those are all good ideas but the sweltering heat should also b ..Read More
Descending on Essex Crossing to Make Points About Homelessness and Union Labor Posted on July 20, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in The Lo-Down A coalition representing groups that advocate for the homeless, labor unions and other progressive organizations marched from First Houses, the public housing development on East 3rd Street, to Delancey Street last Thursday evening. The activists held a “sle ..Read More
Substance Use, Mental Health Improves Among Homeless Following Housing First Intervention Posted on July 20, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in Healio Housing First with intensive case management improved housing stability and community functioning and reduced alcohol-related problems among homeless individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. “To address the pervasive problem of homelessnes ..Read More
New York City’s Great Shame: Homelessness is at its Highest Point Since the Great Depression Posted on July 20, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in New York Daily News New York is a great city and New Yorkers are a proud bunch. Yet one has to question if they have a right to be proud when thousands of New Yorkers have to live in homeless shelters or sleep on the streets. The great shame of the city is that homelessness is at ..Read More
The Solution to Homelessness is Housing, Not Policing Posted on July 17, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in Gotham Gazette Mayor de Blasio and Commissioner Bratton were confronted by the growing disorder associated with homeless mentally ill people at a press conference on Wednesday. The mayor responded that the city is both relying on aggressive “quality of life” policing and ..Read More
Housing Advocates Stage Sleep-in to Push for More Affordable Accommodation Posted on July 17, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in New York Daily News A group of housing advocates staged a sleep-in to encourage the city to build more affordable housing. About 200 protesters took to the streets Thursday evening to call on Mayor de Blasio to set aside 15,000 residential units for the homeless. The group marche ..Read More
Richard Gere Experiences Homelessness for Film, Stresses Need for Human Connection Posted on July 16, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in The Washington Times Even Richard Gere had a tough time panhandling. For his role as George, a homeless man suffering from mental illness in the upcoming film “Time Out of Mind,” the actor went “undercover” in New York, standing on street corners and beseeching people for ..Read More
Formerly Homeless Tenants in Prospect-Lefferts Building Fight Order to Move Posted on July 16, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in DNAinfo Dozens of formerly homeless families whose landlord wants them out of his Clarkson Avenue building are fighting back against the order — as they and their legal advocates say they have every right to stay. Residents of 60 Clarkson Ave. said they received not ..Read More
Private Homeless Shelters are Exactly as Awful as You’d Think Posted on July 16, 2015 by Jacquelyn Simone in Quartz Under state law, New York City is obligated to provide shelter to anyone who asks for it. A July 2015 report (pdf) released by the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS) puts the total count of New York’s sheltered individuals at more than 55,000—n ..Read More