January 6, 2015 For Immediate Release January 6, 2015 Statement on the Altruism of Governor Mario M. Cuomo Mary Brosnahan, President and CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless, made the following statement: “Today all New Yorkers celebrate the extraordinary life of Governor Mario M. Cuomo – a great man who achieved more than any other elected official for homeless men, women and children. When the New York/New York Agreement to House Homeless Mentally Ill Individuals was signed by Governor Cuomo and Mayor David Dinkins in 1990, Governor Cuomo commented to the New York Times about his plan to provide housing and support services to 5,225 homeless people in just two years: “Is it going to be expensive? It’s going to cost a fortune. But, if government can’t take care of the homeless, the mentally ill and the people who are addicted, what is government for?” Again and again over his three terms, Mario Cuomo demonstrated to the entire nation that sheltering, feeding, and providing permanent housing is indeed what government is for. He brought to life the most fundamental call for compassion which is the cornerstone of his beloved Catholic faith – speaking and writing so eloquently about our collective and individual duty to protect those with nowhere else to turn. But he did much more than just speak: He invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build permanent housing with support services for people living with mental illnesses in shelters and on our streets. His lasting legacy is that permanent housing, which continues to protect thousands of our most vulnerable neighbors today, and provides a model which has been replicated across the nation. We honor Governor Cuomo’s unsurpassed leadership and extend heartfelt condolences to his loved ones. Mario Cuomo leaves a legacy which will continue to inspire us for all time.”
