STATEMENT BY THE FAMILY HOMELESSNESS COALITION Re: City Council Response to Mayor de Blasio’s 2020 Budget
Released April 10, 2019
Wednesday, April 10, 2019 – NEW YORK, NY – “We applaud Speaker Corey Johnson and the New York City Council for addressing the family homelessness crises in their response to Mayor Bill de Blasio’s preliminary budget.
“The council proposes to increase the number of much-needed social workers within our public schools and for families with children in hotels, as well as calls for an investment of $500,000 in an Education Support Center at PATH. School based social workers and the education unit at PATH are designed to address the social, emotional and educational needs of homeless students; social workers placed in hotels can address the trauma of family dislocation, and both improve educational stability and well-being.
“Additionally, the council proposes increasing the Supportive Housing Rate and expanding staffing at both the city’s Office of the Tenant Advocate and Source of Income Unit. These measures will help to combat housing discrimination and keep families housed.
“Collectively these measures advance cross agency collaboration and seek to better address the needs of homeless New Yorkers by advancing prevention and improving well-being and stability.
“We look forward to working with the council and the mayor to ensure these proposals are part of the city’s 2020 budget.”
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The Family Homelessness Coalition, a coalition representing service providers, housing providers, children’s organizations, and advocacy organizations, urges New York City to launch a coordinated, multi-agency, collaborative effort focused on the needs of homeless children and their families to prevent homelessness where possible, improve the well-being of children and families in shelter, and support the long-term stability of children and families who leave shelter.
