Summary:
NYC homeless outreach groups face mass layoffs due to a $4 million budget cut.
The cut affects vital services, including medical care and housing assistance for the street homeless population.
Street homelessness in NYC is increasing, with a 2.4% rise from 2023 and a 20.3% increase from 2022.
The Manhattan Outreach Consortium alone projects 35 layoffs, threatening their success in placing individuals into housing.
City Councilwoman Gale Brewer urges the full restoration of the $8 million funding.
NYC Homeless Outreach Groups Face Mass Layoffs Due to Budget Cuts
Nonprofit groups aiding New York City's street homeless population are facing potential mass layoffs due to a significant $4 million budget cut. This reduction, included in the city's 2025 fiscal year budget, will drastically impact organizations providing vital services like medical care and housing assistance.
The Impact of the Cuts
The city's Department of Homeless Services (DHS) had allocated $8 million annually in “hotspot funding” since 2019. However, the new budget only renewed this funding at $4 million for the first six months, leaving the future uncertain. While DHS has requested an additional $4 million, approval is pending.
This funding cut is particularly concerning as street homelessness is rising in NYC. The January street homelessness census showed a 2.4% increase from 2023 and a 20.3% increase from 2022.
The Manhattan Outreach Consortium, representing multiple street homeless outreach groups, projects they will have to lay off 35 of their 143 outreach workers due to the funding loss. This cut threatens the progress made in assisting individuals into housing; before hotspot funding, the Consortium placed an average of 207 individuals into housing yearly, while this number increased to 273 after the funding began.
<img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/TNY-Immigrant-Williams-869.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1" alt="City Council member Gale Brewer speaks during a New York Immigration Coalition rally in City Hall Park"><img src="https://i0.wp.com/www.nydailynews.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/GettyImages-1963642344.jpg?fit=620%2C9999px&ssl=1" alt="People walk past a homeless man sitting on the sidewalk in Manhattan">Councilwoman Brewer's Concerns
Councilwoman Gale Brewer voiced strong concerns, emphasizing the need for the full $8 million restoration to prevent these crucial services from being lost. She highlighted the potential negative impact of these cuts on the efforts to help people off the streets.
The mayor's office has yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised by the non-profit organizations and City Council members.
Comments
Join Our Community
Create an account to share your thoughts, engage with others, and be part of our growing community.