Upcoming Events, Legislative News, Grant Opportunities, & More
Please view/allow images in your email program so you don't miss a thing!
|
Friday, July 29, 2022
The Bronx Chamber of Commerce - Bronx Business News You Can Use
NYC PUBLIC ADVOCATE, COALITION ISSUE REPORT EXPLORING HOW TO END HOMELESSNESS BY 2026
The Committee to End Homelessness by 2026– a coalition convened by New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams of attorneys, housing specialists and directly impacted individuals– released a new report today aimed at providing a roadmap to end the city’s longstanding and systemic homelessness crisis over the next four years. The comprehensive report illustrates the root causes of homelessness, the issues within the current system, and what’s needed to safely house every New Yorker and end homelessness as New Yorkers experience it today by 2026.
“We're in a moment when the homelessness crisis is worsening, a wave of pending evictions threatens to worsen it, and homeless individuals are being targeted, demonized, and dehumanized,” said Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “It’s incumbent on us to protect unhoused New Yorkers and ensure their swift transition out of shelters into permanent housing. Right now, as encampment sweeps continue in the five boroughs, the city’s doing this out of order. You can’t just tell homeless people to leave public spaces without having enough safe places for them to go. We have the tools to end homelessness as we know it in New York City by 2026, but we need the political will to prioritize truly helping unhoused New Yorkers, not just pushing them out of sight.”
The report, which comes during Homeless Rights Month, reimagines the New York City budget with the aim of transforming the current housing and shelter administrative agencies into a system that provides housing for all; describes a supportive, humane, and safe shelter system for people in crisis; and details a blueprint for transitioning from a system focused on temporary housing to a system that offers permanent housing solutions for all New Yorkers.
The report lays out a blueprint that is ambitious but not theoretical, and one that becomes more difficult the longer the city waits to act. It details the need for:
- Privacy and dignity in shelters instead of congregate settings
- On-site services for New Yorkers living in shelters
- Expanded resources to help those in shelters quickly access permanent housing
- Dramatic reductions in the amount of time people spend in shelters before accessing permanent housing
- Substantial financial investment in keeping New Yorkers in their homes
Homelessness is a direct result of a lack of regulated and unregulated housing; and as housing in the five boroughs grows even more affordable, this report demonstrates how New York City is entirely unprepared for a magnified housing and homelessness crisis. While the most effective solution to homelessness is to provide permanent, affordable housing, with support for those who need them, shelters are necessary to rapidly respond to those who need immediate assistance. Unfortunately, as the report details, New York City’s focus on expanding shelters rather than permanent housing has resulted in overcrowded shelters and a limited supply of affordable housing options.
Instead, the report calls on the city to improve its existing shelters so they best serve their residents’ needs, provide social services to housed New Yorkers to prevent homelessness, and build an abundance of permanent, affordable housing. Shelters must prepare their residents to transition back into permanent housing by providing healthcare, social workers, and other supportive services. After utilizing those resources, shelter residents then need permanent, safe, and affordable housing options. The city can and must also prevent homelessness in the first place by providing additional support to residents at-risk of homelessness.
In March of 2020, when there were more unhoused New Yorkers than at any other point in the city’s history, a group of organizations who service all aspects of homelessness came together on a mission to address and end the homelessness crisis in New York City. This report is the culmination of that work.
“Open Hearts is thrilled to contribute to the Committee to End Homelessness by 2026. This report tackles homelessness head-on by addressing root causes and laying the foundation for change. Our recommendations are based on countless interviews with directly impacted people, service providers, and advocates. Together they outline a powerful plan to end homelessness as a semi-permanent limbo and instead get people rapidly into housing, with shelters acting as an emergency transitional mechanism that cares for mental and physical health. This July, which is Homeless Rights Month, New York City must adopt these recommendations and stop the sweeps, fast-track housing, and provide shelter with privacy and dignity for all," said Corinne Low, Executive Director of the Open Hearts Initiative.
Read the full report on ending the homelessness crisis here.
State Senator Gustavo Rivera - Over 100,000 New Yorkers Face Steep Health Insurance Cost Hikes Without Federal Action
Senate Health Chair Gustavo Rivera Sounds the Alarm to Keep Health Costs Low
State Senator Gustavo Rivera alongside 20 of his colleagues in the New York State Senate penned a letter to the New York congressional delegation urging them to take action to stop the expiration of critical health insurance premium subsidies. If Congress fails to take action in the coming weeks, premium tax credits and assistance included in the American Rescue Plan will expire at the end of this year. These subsidies allow low-income New Yorkers to access no-cost insurance and further extends premium assistance to households where healthcare costs are a significant portion of their income, which significantly offsets the high cost of private insurance premiums for more than 100,000 New Yorkers. If these programs are not extended, experts estimate that New Yorkers will see insurance premiums increase by 58% on average, according to the National Academy for State Health Policy.
"New Yorkers are facing higher prices across the board, so I'm urging my congressional colleagues to stop health insurance costs from skyrocketing by extending critical premium assistance included in the American Rescue Plan," said State Senator Gustavo Rivera, 33rd District, The Bronx. "Potential expiration of premium assistance is a dire situation that puts over hundred thousand New Yorkers at risk of drastic health coverage cost increases or losing health coverage entirely. I'm sounding the alarm to extend premium assistance and no-cost health coverage to prevent potentially devastating disruptions in our healthcare system."
Read letter here.
Governor Hochul Directs Department of Environmental Conservation to Issue Drought Watch for 21 New York Counties
Map of New York State Drought Conditions Available Here
Governor Kathy Hochul today directed the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to issue a drought watch for 21 New York counties after consulting with the State Drought Management Task Force and federal partner agencies. New York State is encouraging residents in affected counties, particularly those dependent on private groundwater wells, to conserve water whenever possible during the coming weeks.
"Recent rains across the state were not enough to address the dry conditions that have persisted this year," Governor Hochul said. "Local water restrictions and educating residents about how to help conserve our water resources will be crucial steps to help prevent a more severe shortage should conditions worsen."
The counties under drought watch are Allegany, Cattaraugus, Cayuga, Chautauqua, Chemung, Erie, Genessee, Livingston, Monroe, Niagara, Onondaga, Orleans, Schuyler, Seneca, Steuben, Suffolk, Tompkins, Wyoming, and Yates. A watch is the first of four levels of State drought advisories, which are watch, warning, emergency, and disaster. No mandatory restrictions are in place under a drought watch.
Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos said, "Conserving water is important all year long, but particularly during extended dry periods like we are experiencing now. DEC will continue to monitor water conditions as the summer continues and work with our partners to help address the short-term water issues leading to this watch and the longer-term impacts of climate change on our everyday lives."
While few public water supply challenges have been reported due to dry conditions, below-normal precipitation during the last three months, low streamflows, and low groundwater levels prompted the need for action to ensure adequate public water supplies. Local public water suppliers are urged to assess the current situation, promote voluntary conservation, and take appropriate actions to manage risk.
The drought watch is triggered by the State Drought Index, which reflects precipitation levels, reservoir/lake levels, and stream flow and groundwater levels in the nine drought regions of the state. Each of these indicators is assigned a weighted value based on its significance to various uses in a region. The State Drought Index is attuned to the specific attributes of New York and may differ moderately from some national technical drought assessments.
DEC and U.S. Geological Survey are partners in evaluating hydrologic conditions across New York State. Observed precipitation has been less than normal with shortfalls of two to six inches common over the last 90 days. The dry weather began in the spring and is beginning to significantly affect other metrics. Stream flows and groundwater levels are well below normal throughout much of the affected regions. Groundwater levels have been declining over the past few months and they are not expected to improve in the immediate future due to the existing precipitation deficit.
The National Weather Service outlook for the remainder of the summer predicts above-normal temperatures and below-normal precipitation. By voluntarily reducing water usage, and being extra careful with fire and outdoor flames, New Yorkers can help conserve our natural resources during these dry days of summer.
To protect water resources, homeowners are encouraged to voluntarily reduce outdoor water use and follow these tips:
- Water lawns only when necessary, choose watering methods that avoid waste, and water in the early morning to reduce evaporation and maximize soil hydration;
- Reuse water collected in rain barrels, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners to water plants;
- Raise lawn mower cutting heights. Longer grass is healthier with stronger roots and needs less water;
- Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways and sidewalks; and
- Fix leaking pipes, hoses, and faucets.
For more water saving tips, visit DEC's webpage at http://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5009.html. For more information about drought in New York, go to: https://www.dec.ny.gov/lands/5011.html