Posted on July 15, 2016 by Jacquelyn Simone Coalition for the Homeless Policy Director Giselle Routhier joined other advocates on the BRIC TV program BkLive this Wednesday to discuss the current state of homelessness and what further actions the City and State must take to turn the tide. Giselle pointed to the worsening housing affordability gap as well as the legacy of inadequate policy response as the main reasons for the persistently high homelessness levels. In order to combat these forces, she advocated for the City to make use of permanent housing resources by placing more homeless families into NYCHA units and expanding the availability of HPD housing stock for the lowest-income New Yorkers. “We’re taking steps forward, and we’re moving in the right direction, focusing on housing, but we need to make bigger steps given the severity of the crisis,” she explained. Giselle and other panelists also called on State leaders to follow through on their supportive housing commitments without further delay. More than six months ago, Governor Cuomo promised that the State would create 20,000 units of supportive housing over 15 years, with the first 6,000 units funded in this year’s budget. In the final hours of the legislative session, however, the Governor and legislative leaders signed a Memorandum of Understanding to release a mere $150 million of the $1.9 billion that had already been set aside for affordable and supportive housing in the budget. “There is literally nearly $2 billion just sitting in the State budget that was allocated that has not been spent,” Giselle explained. “We need that money to be released so that units can be built, so that people with significant mental health issues, substance abuse issues, and people living with HIV/AIDS can actually access housing that works and that will get people off the streets and get people out of shelters.” Watch the full interview below.
