REMARKS
Council Member Jumaane Williams opens City Council hearing on the impact of shelter policies on families and children
0:04:58
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3 min
Jumaane Williams, the Public Advocate of New York City, delivered an opening statement criticizing the city's shelter policies and their severe impact on homeless families and children.
- He noted that 69% of those in shelters are families, including over 48,000 children.
- He argued the administration's time limits on shelter stays violate the city's right to shelter mandate.
- He highlighted the disruptions caused by evictions, like children being removed from schools.
- He stated nearly 105 migrant children evicted lost enrollment in NYC public schools.
- He described the stressful process families undergo to apply for temporary shelter.
Jumaane Williams
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Thank you so much.
0:04:59
As mentioned, my name is Giovanni Williams, public advocacy of New York.
0:05:02
Thank you to deputy speaker Ayala and the members of the committee on general welfare for holding his hearing.
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In March 2024, 69% of those in shelters were members of homeless families.
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Including 48,304 children.
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The families experiencing homelessness for a variety of reasons in every neighborhood and community in our city They are neighbors, friends, classmates, colleagues, students, and loved ones.
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There's more on legal duty to provide shelter to those experiencing homelessness.
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And we should all prioritize creating permanent, affordable, accessible housing for everyone who needs it.
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The current current time limit is set by this administration violates the spirit of our city's longstanding right to shelter.
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Our city cannot bear the cause of housing and providing service to our newest New Yorkers alone.
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But evicting them, including families with children from shelter, is not the solution, particularly when there's no real casework for many of these families, and not without timely communication.
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While the administration said that the 30 60 day shelter limits from migrants have contributed to a cost reduction, The consequence of that decision do not outweigh the benefits.
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Children displace from their schools and communities just when they are settling into normalcy People lined up overnight on the streets in freezing temperature.
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Anxiety confusion is particularly unacceptable.
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Also, I wanna mention an administration that prides itself on diversity.
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To have this new policy affect primary black migrants is particularly disturbing.
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In October of last year, mayor Adams announced that the 60 day shelter limit would be extended to migrant families of children who represent about 75% of the migrant shelter population.
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And the time since thousands of families have been given notice or evicted.
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This policy has been attached for these families and especially the children.
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Nearly 105 migrant children evicted from the shelters had their schooling interrupted with 2 thirds of those students no long enrolled in New York City public schools at all.
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In addition to many migrant children who have moved far from the schools are now spending large portion of their days on transportation if their buses arrive at all.
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For children who have already experienced massive disruptions in their lives leaving their countries and coming to a new city on top of the trauma they may have endured, this is particularly devastating.
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Students could become attached to their schools, teachers, and classmates, and interrupting inconsistency is stressful.
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Interrupting that consistency is stressful, potentially potentially re traumatizing.
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The process of seeking shelter for families, even for non migrant families, as owners, with multiple hopes that families must jump through.
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The entire family including minor children, must travel to the prevention assistance and temporary housing path center in the Bronx.
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This is the only office at which family can apply for temporary housing.
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This means that children will likely not be able to attend school that day instead spending their day in transit and in waiting rooms.
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Families often wait hours for their appointments, and they are not allowed to bring in outside food.
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Many families receive temporary overnight placement and most return the next day in the hopes of being placed in a long term shelter.
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Some families are deemed ineligible for shelter and must start the process over again while families can receive a temporary conditional placement while they reapply They do not become eligible for DHS specific renter child vouchers until they have a formal placement for all.
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But especially children experiencing homelessness is stressful and traumatic Many children enter shelter after fleeing abusive environment, domestic violence among the leading cause of homelessness in New York City.
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In April, May Adams announced a pilot program called Project Home to connect domestic violence of virus with permanent housing, beginning with a 100 families of children.
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Those staying HRA domestic violence shelters will be eligible for HPD housing affordable housing, which was previously limited to those in DHL shelters.
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I applaud the mayor for this effort, and I hope to see more like it in the future.
0:08:33
We also want to make sure that we're clear with this with this policy, we are affecting primarily black migrants.
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We also are not keeping track of where they're going.
0:08:43
We've seen overcrowding in places like mosques and other spaces that are trying their best to fill the gap.
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So it's hard pressed to see how we are viewing this as a success.
0:08:52
Thank you.
