We fund our Homeless In-Reach Center with private donations ...
Homeless Statistic: The number of homeless people sleeping each night in the New York City shelter system increased by seven percent, from 50,135 people in January 2013 to 53,615 people in January 2014, the highest level ever recorded. Between 2012 and late 2014, those two “post-recession” years when luxury housing boomed, the numbers shot up by about 20,000.
Homeless Statistic: The number of homeless single adults sleeping each night in the New York City shelter system rose five percent to 11,342 women and men, a new all-time record.
Homeless Statistic: Over the course of FY 2013, more than 111,000 different New Yorkers – including more than 40,000 different children – turned to the homeless shelter system, five percent more than the previous year.
At our Times Square Homeless In-Reach Center Project FIND:
- Provides a safe space where homeless seniors can shower, get clean clothes and a meal
- Connects them with a social worker who can obtain the full spectrum of entitlements for which they are eligible
- Assesses their need for medical and mental health services with an onsite clinic
- Reconnect homeless seniors with supportive networks of family and friends
- Work with them to determine the most appropriate housing options and support them as they make the transition off life on the streets
It is important to remember that making meaningful inroads with this population requires patience and ongoing one-to-one contact. Many of these individuals suffer from an undiagnosed mental illness which greatly complicates their ability to secure housing of any sort. A notable success has been the placement of more than 50% of the long-term homeless individuals in permanent, temporary and shelter based housing. On average we place one formerly homeless senior in housing every 5.5 days –all year long.