File #: Res 0210-2014    Version: * Name: Explore the possibility of charging other states and municipalities to recover the costs of housing homeless people who relocate to NYC.
Type: Resolution Status: Filed (End of Session)
Committee: Committee on General Welfare
On agenda: 4/29/2014
Enactment date: Law number:
Title: Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to explore the possibility of charging other states and municipalities to recover the costs of housing homeless people who relocate to New York City.
Sponsors: Ruben Wills
Council Member Sponsors: 1

Res. No. 210

 

Resolution calling upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to explore the possibility of charging other states and municipalities to recover the costs of housing homeless people who relocate to New York City.

 

By Council Member Wills

 

Whereas, The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter system currently houses 12,641 families and 52,146 total individuals; and

Whereas, The average length of stay in shelter is 293 days for individuals, 469 days for adult families, and 375 days for families with children; and

Whereas, According to the New York City Coalition for the Homeless, it costs roughly $36,000 per year to provide a homeless family with temporary shelter; and

Whereas, DHS’s proposed 2014 budget was $918.5 million, with much of this funding allocated for shelter intake and operations; and

Whereas, According to DHS, in August 2013 roughly 10 percent of families and 17 percent of single adults who entered the shelter system were from an area outside of New York City; and

Whereas, By entering the DHS shelter system, these individuals and families place a financial burden upon the City of New York, as opposed to their own home city or state; and

Whereas, DHS offers some programs aimed at individuals and families with strong ties to areas outside of New York, such as Project Reconnect, which purchases one-way plane tickets for homeless individuals and families to other states and municipalities; and

Whereas, However, there is no publicly available data on the scope and efficacy of Project Reconnect; and

Whereas, Project Reconnect further displaces families and individuals already in turmoil, and still has a significant impact on City finances; and

Whereas, New York City faces record levels of homelessness, and by many estimations is in the midst of a homeless crisis; and

Whereas, Homeless individuals and families from outside of New York City place a considerable financial strain on the City’s finances, and comprise a significant portion of the City’s total homeless population; and

Whereas, Therefore, New York City should be able to share the financial burden for providing those individuals with shelter with the states and municipalities of their origin; now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Council of the City of New York calls upon the New York State Legislature and the Governor to explore the possibility of charging other states and municipalities to recover the costs of housing homeless people who relocate to New York City.

 

PD

LS #911

4/2/14