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As a non-profit supportive housing provider, we find the recent New York Times article, detailing the record-breaking number of people in New York City homeless shelters be distressing and a clarion call to action. For the first time, over 100,000 individuals, more than half of them migrants, find themselves without a place they can call home – a staple of human dignity.
This is an issue that strikes at the heart of basic human rights and deserves the utmost attention. Taking into consideration the magnitude of the crisis and its complexities, we firmly believe in the necessity of robust, collaborative efforts to finding and implementing viable solutions to this quandary.
Compassion and assistance are routed deep into the fibers of our society, particularly towards those in dire circumstances. Homelessness is a pressing issue that has long been a part of our urban landscapes, yet it has escalated to unprecedented levels. A significant contributing factor to this surge is the influx of migrants – with 50,000 individuals making up the majority of New York City’s homeless shelter residents.
However, it is not only migrants that have contributed to the increase in homelessness in the city; the nonmigrant homeless population has also surged under Mayor Eric Adams’ administration. There has been a sharp jump from 45,000 residents in the main shelter system when Adams took office, to over 81,000. These numbers beckon us to take notice and act.
Government efforts to address this crisis are commendable, with expenditures surpassing a billion dollars to provide accommodation to those entering the city’s shelter system. In pursuance of long-term solutions, the city has appealed to state and federal governments for assistance: be it for providing temporary homes for migrants, feeding and housing them, supporting their integration into the job market, or aiding in resolving asylum claims.
At this point, we echo the sentiments of Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom who highlighted the need for national coordination to effectively manage this crisis. A framework that envisages a holistic approach – taking into consideration the housing and employment needs of individuals along with their legal and social concerns – is of paramount importance.
As a key player in supportive housing provision, we follow a housing-first approach – geared towards providing individuals with stable housing as a priority. We firmly believe that housing is a crucial step towards stability and a springboard towards achieving other life goals. A service-oriented outlook that is holistic and inclusive functionally reduces homelessness, poverty and increases the quality of health and life.
As alarming as the numbers are, this situation serves as a reminder of our shared responsibility as a society. It points out the importance of viewing homelessness not as an individual failure, but as a societal problem that requires collective effort to address effectively. After all, every person deserves a place they can call home, and a society that supports their wellbeing.
Together, we can significantly contribute to a future where every person has a place to call home – a future that upholds the dignity of all.
Meta: This blog post is a reaction to the concerning increase of homeless people in New York City, with a specific focus on the influx of migrants in homeless shelters. Through a comprehensive analysis, it calls for unified action to reduce homelessness, emphasizing the social responsibility towards this issue. It also reflects on the strategies of providing supportive housing and the need for national coordination.
