Offering housing for those displaced by Sandy

whynot_31

whynot_31 said:

The city knows that, given the circumstances, the judges and media will side with the city.

This belief is so strong and their present need is so great, that DHS is willing to open shelters that test the limits of existing laws and regulations:

http://www.brooklyneagle.com/articles/restraining-order-intrigue-clouds-fate-carroll-gardens-homeless-shelter

Once the crisis is over, DHS will again abide by a more conservative interpetation.

Until then, "We are doing what we need to do, and what needs to be done. Get the hell out of our way".

whynot_31

The poorest of the poor....

Thanks to a timely donation, emergency support is helping adult home residents with psychiatric disabilities in New York City who were displaced by Hurricane Sandy to cope through this crisis.

CIAD, a New York City-based advocacy group for adult home residents, is using the funds to hire and train ex-residents to provide a range of service to their peers, including:

· Identifying displaced homeless residents and assisting them to locate and transition to more independent supportive housing

· Providing crisis support and counseling to displaced adult home residents

· Helping to advocate for residents with staff in temporary shelters

· Helping residents to apply for emergency FEMA benefits

The funds were made possible through a contribution from Optum, the organization that manages New York City’s behavioral health Medicaid program, who enlisted the aid of the New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services (NYAPRS) to develop the project.

whynot_31

splunge said:

Air BnB has a sectin of its website now dedicated to Sandy, partnership with the City. They've waived all fees to allow people to offer space and for searches/sign ups.

https://www.airbnb.com/sandy

Despite this nice gesture by Air BnB and this short lived NYC-Air BnB partnership, the city is pursuing fines against people who rent out their apartments as hotels:

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/newtechcity/blogs/new-tech-city-blog/2013/feb/05/nyc-tells-airbnb-hosts-dont-get-too-cosy/

whynot_31

The increase began pre-Sandy, due to the escalating rents at the lowest part of the market.

The shelter population will take some time to reduce....

whynot_31

As explained above, it is usually only the poorest and most needy who end up in NYC homeless shelters for an extended period of time.

This makes me optimistic that owners of homes who were so close to foreclosure that Sandy actually pushed them into foreclosure, will avoid DHS shelters.

However, I am not as confident that renters living in such homes will as lucky.

This article discusses how Sandy has pushed many homeowners into foreclosure in nearby Canarsie: http://www.bkbureau.org/canarsie-braces-foreclosure-wave-after-sandy

whynot_31

The WSJ is reporting the census in NYC shelters exceeded 50,000 people a night during January

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324539404578340731809639210.html?mod=WSJ_NY_LEFTTopStories

whynot_31

Crains and the Daily News are reporting that the storm impacted people on the lower end of the income scale the most:

http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130306/REAL_ESTATE/130309915

http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/coney-island-brighton-beach-residents-asked-sandy-nabes-article-1.1281341#ixzz2MrKRweDy

whynot_31

It is tempting to blame the surge in homeless in shelters on Sandy. One must also factor in the increasing rents in NYC.

Likewise, The census in shelters is one thing, but The impact on the city budget is also concerning. Here is a well written analysis: http://ibo.nyc.ny.us/cgi-park2/?p=323

whynot_31

Bloomberg might not have meant to setting up a classic fight, but he has.

Side one: These people are poor because the city's prosperity has not benefited everyone.

Side two: These people are poor because they are from somewhere else. "Our" people are better than ever.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/18/nyregion/new-york-as-safety-net-for-out-of-town-homeless.html?ref=nyregion&_r=0

whynot_31

As of April 30th, the government will no longer pay to house people in hotels:

http://www.gothamgazette.com/index.php/housing/4230-families-displaced-by-superstorm-sandy-running-out-of-time

Neeedless to say, the vast majority of the original "Sandy hotel population" has already obtained housing.

Regarding the population that remains, unless they have been staying in the hotel until a May 1 lease kicks in, the group that remains is likely bound for the NYC shelter system.

...which just about ends this long winded thread on the prolonged effects of a natural disaster.

whynot_31

whynot_31 said:

The increase began pre-Sandy, due to the escalating rents at the lowest part of the market.

The shelter population will take some time to reduce....

Back when the shelter population began to grow, DHS knew it would not have enough the resources (both physical and financial) to house everyone who was demanding it.

As a result, it began to set requirements that may have violated prior court ruling that define "the right to shelter" in NYC.

These requirements are now being challenged, and the courts have agreed to hear the challenge: http://newsandinsight.thomsonreuters.com/New_York/News/2013/06_-_June/Court_of_Appeals_will_hear_NYC_homeless_shelter_case/

Game on.

whynot_31

Meanwhile, DHS continues to desperately fund non-profits and developers in order to comply with the existing mandate.

The non-profits and developers are no longer afraid to build in areas in which lefty politicians have previously given support in exchange for the expectation that they would not build there.

"Sorry Jumaane, we don't need you as a friend at the moment."

http://brooklyn.news12.com/news/councilman-jumaane-williams-east-flatbush-residents-protest-construction-involving-homeless-shelter-1.6080656