The City Council in a resolution yesterday called on the state to match the City’s commitment to create thousands of supportive units of housing earmarked for the homeless.
The resolution comes days after Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he would take unilateral action to get more homeless off the street, and adds teeth to Mayor de Blasio‘s November 18 announced commitment of allocating $2.6 billion to create 15,000 new units of supportive housing for the city’s homeless population.
“Supportive housing makes sense for New Yorkers; providing stable, affordable housing, integrated with valuable care and support services has helped countless individuals and families overcome the challenges that left them homeless,” said Williamsburg/Downtown Brooklyn City Councilman Stephen Levin, who is increasingly becoming the city council point person for the de Blasio Administration.
“With the passage of this resolution, the council joins its voice with state legislators, advocates, and current and formerly homeless New Yorkers to call upon Governor Cuomo to match [the Mayor’s] commitment to construct 15,000 new units of supportive housing,” he added.
The supportive housing model would provide a place for those in need and assist them to transition into permanent housing. It would also provide on-site services to help tenants overcome challenges such as addiction, mental and physical illness – factors that contribute to their chronic homelessness – and assist them in finding permanent housing and employment.
“When a program, such as supportive housing, is successful at providing essential services to address the causes of homelessness and helping New Yorkers into stable housing, we must invest significant resources,” said Flatlands City Council Member Jumaane Williams. “It is time for the City and State to work together again to create more supportive housing and get our families off the streets and back into homes.”
“Almost 60,000 New Yorkers sleep in homeless shelters across the city, and supportive housing is the best and most cost effective solution to move New York’s most vulnerable off the streets and into permanent housing,” said Mary Broshnahan, President and CEO of Coalition for the Homeless. “Committing to a fourth NY/NY Agreement is the only way Governor Cuomo can send a clear message that he’s serious about ending this terrible epidemic.”
