WWW.12 OCTOBER 24, 2019 RIDGEWOOD TIMES QNS.COM
Continuing to fail our most vulnerable
City Comptroller Scott Stringer
blasted City Hall on Oct. 21 with
a report that demonstrated just
how much our government has failed
to protect the most vulnerable people
who live here.
According to Stringer, the number
of domestic violence victims living
in the city’s family shelter system has
spiked by 44 percent over the last fi ve
years. These survivors now account
for 41 percent of the family shelter
population in this city.
But worse than that, Stringer’s
report found that the city isn’t doing
nearly enough to help these victims
— who have already been through
horrible situations — get back on their
feet.
The city limits the stay of victims in
crisis shelters to 180 days; if they can’t
fi nd proper, permanent housing for
these victims, they are sent to another
shelter.
Stringer also said the housing
vouchers off ered to these survivors
aren’t anywhere close fi nancially to
what’s needed to help them aff ord skyhigh
rents in this city.
EDITORIAL
State Senator Alessandra Biaggi and Comptroller Scott Stringer speak after Stringer’s offi ce released a study
regarding the number of domestic violence victims living in the city’s family shelter system.
Photo: Mark Hallum/QNS
None of this should surprise any of
us, at this point. The past decade has
seen an unprecedented rise in homelessness
matched by evidence of a city
government either too overwhelmed,
too inadequate or too apathetic to meet
this challenge.
Mayor Bill de Blasio’s “Turning
the Tide on Homelessness” plan has
proven to be as useful as shoveling
sand into the ocean during high tide.
Communities across the city are still
fi ghting proposed shelters tooth and
nail — partly because of NIMBYism,
true, but the size and scope of these
shelters (potentially housing hundreds)
is indeed cause for serious concern.
The subways are riddled with
homeless people sleeping on benches
or amid fi lthy train cars.
It’s galling and shameful that the
people we elected to run this city can’t
fi gure out what to do to help those in
the most need. We’re supposed to be
the most progressive city in America
with policies designed not to leave
anyone behind from economic opportunity
and a better life.
And yet, here we are with a City Hall
utterly incapable of fi nding a domestic
violence victim and their children a
decent place to live in peace and rebuild
their lives.
It’s enough to move you to tears. We
only wish it would move City Hall to
action.
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