Beaucratic Silliness in NYC homeless shelters

[Highwayhound]

I heard about this on the Glen Beck program this morning. I have only found this one news source.

nowpublic.com/world/new-york-city-and-homeless

On the surface it seems silly to limit shelters by requiring them to be open a minimum of 5 days. Afterall volunteers are by definition volunteering.

Does anyone know more about this?

 

[wapsi]

I didn’t find an explanation of the policy. I wonder if the thinking behind it is that homeless people need a regular place to rest their head and if a shelter is open less than five days then it is too patchwork in its coverage. But I am not sure I buy it - word would spread when a person could stay in one place, and what days of the week s/he would need to stay elsewhere.

The Homeless Services spokesman explained:

On Saturday, the city Department of Homeless Services said there is plenty of space at shelters to accept all those who have been sleeping in the churches. The shelters include four new faith-based sites where the number of beds combined with availability amounts to a greater total number of nights for people to stay, said Homeless Services spokeswoman Heather J. Janik.

There are now about 250 beds in churches, mosques and synagogues. They’re close to drop-in centers where people receive other services including food, Janik said.

abclocal.go.com/wabc/story?section=news/local&id=6515502

One advocate for the homeless disagrees:

Patrick Markee of the Coalition for the Homeless non-profit advocacy group disputed the city figures showing an increase in beds. He said the city proposes to close down drop-in shelters overnight.

“That’s a net loss,” he said.

“However you cut it, there will be less shelter for the street homeless at a time when the economic downturn is causing more homelessness.”

Janik said drop-in centres provide only “folding chairs,” not beds.

“That’s unacceptable and we think there are better programs and ways,” she said.

google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5ii2icpszHlUxd7cJBlUekuiE4p-g