Homelessness is a permanent problem. We will never solve it.
Mass homelessness is, pure and simple, the result of the lack of affordable housing for people at the lower end of the economic spectrum. There are many proven solutions for addressing that lack, and for helping people with their health and social service needs. The government is simply not implementing those solutions.
Out-of-towners abusing NYC’s right to shelter are the cause of record homelessness in NYC.
While the rapid increase in the number of asylum seekers and other New Arrivals to NYC that began in 2022 created a need for a parallel system of emergency shelters, mass homelessness has been increasing in the city for decades because of the lack of affordable and supportive housing for New Yorkers.
If people can afford a television or smartphone, then they really aren’t poor.
As the cost of consumer and even some traditionally luxury goods like televisions and smartphones have gone down in price, the cost of essentials like food and housing have steadily gone up. People own these devices now not simply because it is the next big thing, but because it is often the only way to stay connected to the world. Phones and internet are critical to securing employment and maintaining it. With ever-advancing technology, it is imperative that this vulnerable group not be left behind.
The people who live in rent-regulated housing don’t need it and are making market-rate rents increase.
The vast majority of tenants in rent-regulated apartments have low and moderate incomes; one out of four rent-regulated tenants is living in poverty; the large majority of rent-regulated apartments are located outside of Manhattan; and rent-regulated apartments remain much more affordable than non-regulated housing.
It is wrong to give money to people on the street because it is always a scam or they will use the money for drugs.
Most people asking for money on the streets or in the subway do so because they need it to survive, even if they are not homeless. Whether or not to give money to someone is a personal decision, and we all must decide for ourselves if we feel comfortable in a specific situation. But the value of a gift of a few dollars to someone in desperate need can be very meaningful and an act of kindness when it’s needed most.
Homeless people prefer the streets.
People who sleep unsheltered on the streets desperately want a safe place to live. While the legal right to shelter in NYC provides a critical safety net for homeless individuals and families, people who’ve suffered on the streets for years or who struggle with certain psychiatric and medical conditions can find large, congregate shelters difficult places to stay in. The municipal shelters have many rules and regulations, which can be confusing and dehumanizing.
Most have barracks-style dorms with as many as 100 beds in a room that can feel unsafe. In our decades of work helping hundreds of thousands of homeless and at-risk individuals, the Coalition has never come across a person who would turn down a real offer of decent housing.
Homeless people are dangerous.
People experiencing homelessness are far more likely to be the victims of crimes than the perpetrators. The vulnerability of homelessness increases the risk of being victimized. One study found that half of the homeless people surveyed reported experiencing violence, and the risks were higher for people who were older, women, or those who were homeless for more than two years. Stable housing is key to safety.
All homeless people have mental illness or substance use disorder.
The majority of homeless New Yorkers are members of families with children who were evicted or are fleeing domestic violence and are living in shelters or temporarily doubled-up or tripled-up in the homes of others. But disability rates are in fact quite high among families without minor children and single adults in shelter, at 75 percent and 65 percent respectively. The instability and trauma of homelessness exacerbate these challenges and make it even harder for people to manage their health.
