The homeless population in New York City reached a record 60,017 last week. Protesters gathered on the steps of City Hall to demand reform of various de Blasio Administration policies, including the use of hotels and motels as shelters.
Homeless people and their advocates say shelter residents aren’t being given enough support in transitioning into permanent, affordable housing. “Why won’t they move us to apartments?” asked Amanda Roche, who has lived in the Catherine Street Family Respite shelter for two years.
City officials noted the new homeless record is lower than the 67,000 projected earlier this year. “We will continue doubling down on the de Blasio Administration’s prevention and anti-eviction programs that allowed us to cut the trajectory of growth from the 67,000 originally projected,” said Lauren Gray, a spokeswoman for the Department of Homeless Services.
