City Limits’ series on family homelessness in New York City is supported by Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York and The Family Homelessness Coalition. City Limits is solely responsible for the content and editorial direction.
Data released recently by the Department of Education for January shows students living in the shelter system saw the most absences, with a monthly attendance rate of 75.7 percent compared to the citywide rate for all students, which was 89.2 percent.
‘New York State could receive $23 billion as part of the ARPA, representing a once-in-a-lifetime financial base to significantly reduce childhood homelessness, a condition that often sets up the cycle for homelessness as an adult.’
‘Our state and federal governments have a moral responsibility to go beyond emergency measures and implement systemic, long-term solutions that will direct more public resources to preventing eviction and homelessness.’
Advocates believe the city won’t see meaningful reductions in the number of kids who grow up partly in homeless shelters until policies target the social mobility of women of color.
Thirteen questions for the candidates, to separate meaty plans from mere paperwork.
Only a third of the students who reported being homeless last school year were in the formal shelter system.
Advocacy groups are dispensing information, answering questions and offering rides to help unhoused New Yorkers exercise their rights.
Sure, choices matter. But race, gender, wealth, health and identity play an outsized role in exposing New Yorkers to the risk of homelessness.
Advocates and providers say many more families need intensive ongoing support to avoid a return to shelter amid an historic homelessness crisis — even before the COVID-19 outbreak forced thousands of low-income breadwinners out of work.
‘HSS would ensure that our state’s most vulnerable residents can continue to afford rent and remain in secure homes in these uncertain times and even after the current eviction moratorium ends.’