While the Department of Social Services says more people were accepted into supportive housing last year than the year prior, a new report shows persistent barriers and rejections, including some that violate the city’s own guidance.
Brooklyn
State Weighs Tax Deal, Plans ‘Public Engagement’ for Atlantic Yards as Housing Deadline Nears
Norman Oder |
The developer and MTA have come to agreement on the platform needed for three towers, but Greenland USA won’t proceed without a key tax break. As Empire State Development floats proposals, watchdogs warn of delays.
Government
An Overlooked Risk of Extreme Heat in NYC and Nationwide: Maternal Health
CLARIFY News |
Extreme heat from climate change has the potential to exacerbate racial disparities in the five boroughs’ maternal health outcomes. Still, climate change and maternal health often remain two separate policy conversations, both locally and nationally.
Economy
New Yorkers See Uneven Improvement in Food Stamp, Cash Assistance Delays
Julia Goldberg and Emma Whitford |
“If you get cash assistance, you are caught up in really significant delays, in a way that you would not be if you were only receiving SNAP,” said Katie Kelleher of the Legal Aid Society, a lead attorney on a federal lawsuit compelling the city to improve its processing times.
Brooklyn
As Gowanus Rezoning Moves Ahead, Are the Sewers Ready?
Mary Cunningham |
Nearly two years after the Gowanus rezoning’s passage, signs of change are all around: demolition projects and new builds are transforming the neighborhood. According to the Department of City Planning, roughly half of the expected 8,500 apartments along the canal are in planning or construction stages.
Health and Environment
Sweltering Summer Weather Stirs Familiar Concerns Over Heat in NYC Jails
Mary Cunningham and Julia Goldberg |
“It’s an issue that seems to be within DOC’s control, something they can anticipate, and yet they’re really not able to make sure that the conditions are humane for the people that are forced to be there,” one civil rights attorney said.
Economy
How Could NYC’s New Budget Impact the Fight Against Homelessness?
Emma Whitford |
Amid a record-breaking homelessness crisis, there are some bright spots. Mayor Adams has dedicated roughly $4 billion in capital funding to construct affordable housing—a campaign promise that he fell short on last year. Yet staffing cuts and shortages still plague the city agencies tasked with assisting homeless New Yorkers.
Government
Questions Arise About Voting Process in NYCHA Demo Plan, as Public Housing’s Repair Bill Climbs to $78 Billion
Tatyana Turner |
A fight over whether to demolish and rebuild apartments at the Chelsea-Elliott and Fulton Houses in lower Manhattan echoes a larger debate over how NYCHA should raise funds for its deteriorating housing stock, and how much of a say tenants will have in those plans.
Government
For LGBTQIA+ Asylum Seekers, Life in NYC Brings New Freedom, and Challenges
Daniel Parra |
During New York’s Pride Month, several asylum seekers who arrived in New York City after crossing the border finally paraded in a Pride march for the first time in their lives. City Limits spoke with six of them.
Bronx
NYCHA Sees Improved Elevator Metrics, Despite Thousands of Outages a Month
Tatyana Turner |
While the number of NYCHA campuses that saw elevator outages between January and April of this year was the same as the year before, the total number of incidents—9,904—declined by more than 12 percent, and NYCHA’s response time for repairs improved.
Government
Viviendas vacías de NYCHA siguen aumentando y los traslados se complican por el PACT
Tatyana Turner |
El objetivo de la Autoridad de Vivienda de la ciudad de Nueva York (NYCHA por sus siglas en inglés) es que la entrega de los apartamentos se produzca en 30 días. Sin embargo, en abril, NYCHA tardó una media de 410 días en volver a ocupar un apartamento desocupado, lo que supone un aumento significativo desde principios de año, y más del doble que hace un año.