FYI: City spending on homeless prevention has remained relatively flat over the last three years, even as spending on shelters has grown by nearly $200 million, according to an Independent Budget Office report. IBO says most spending on prevention comes through the Human Resources Administration, as either a one time rental assistance grant or “Jiggets” payments, which are court-mandated rental assistance payments to welfare recipients who have received eviction notices. Notably, since 2001, Jiggets spending has plummeted by nearly 25 percent, to $71 million in 2003, while the one-shot cash assistance to low-income families not enrolled in welfare programs has nearly doubled, to $64 million in 2003. IBO says the trend reflects the rising number of people in need of assistance who are no longer eligible for welfare. [10/23/03]