April 21, 2021 Coalition for the Homeless By Coalition for the Homeless NEW YORK, NY — The following statement by Coalition for the Homeless was released today in response to Mayor de Blasio’s recent order for more policing of homeless New Yorkers in midtown Manhattan: “Mayor de Blasio’s plan to deploy police officers into wealthy midtown Manhattan to rid the area of New Yorkers who’ve lost their homes is shockingly callous and counterproductive at a time when so many in our city are suffering. New York City cannot police its way out of the homelessness crisis, and it’s sad to see Mayor de Blasio borrowing the failed tactics of Rudy Giuliani and Mike Bloomberg. Our research shows clearly why so many of our homeless neighbors see no other option than to sleep on the streets: They feel the shelters they are offered are unsafe – especially during a pandemic – and offer no real way back into permanent housing. Instead of wasting millions on the dehumanizing and ineffective approach of siccing the NYPD on marginalized New Yorkers, the Mayor should shift resources toward low barrier shelters and quick access to permanent affordable and supportive housing,” said Dave Giffen, Executive Director at Coalition for the Homeless.
