American Morning
Charging rent to homeless
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/images/05/11/carroll.homeless.art.jpg caption= "Princess Seyborn and her daughter live in a New York City public shelter where they are now being asked to pay rent."]
Imagine you're a single mother. You're living in a homeless shelter making barely enough at your job as a day care worker to feed your daughter and pay the bills. Now what would you do if that shelter suddenly told you in order to stay you had to pay rent? This is the reality for Princess Seyborn and hundreds of other working homeless families in New York City.
The city is starting to charge working homeless families like Seyborn to stay in the city's publicly run shelters. Seyborn now has to pay $345 dollars a month in rent. "I tried to explain it on my best behalf," Seyborn said. "I don't have it and all I'm getting is pens and paper in my face saying sign here and sign here, and I refuse to sign."
The policy is based on a 1997 state law, which requires shelter residents with jobs to use a portion of their earnings to pay rent. The amount varies according to family size and which shelter is being used.
So why is the city implementing the law now? One reason could have to do with the results of a 2007 state audit. The city was required to pay back $2.4 million in housing aid that should have been supplemented by working homeless families.
The city's mayor, Michael Bloomberg, defended the policy saying, "Everybody else is doing it, and we're told we have to do it, so we're going to do it."
But some city officials say the mayor should be looking for ways to reverse the policy not enforce it. Homeless advocates warn the policy could actually prolong a person's stay at a shelter. Arnold Cohen, President and CEO of Partnership for the Homeless, said city officials don't understand the income many of these people make goes to childcare. Cohen said, "So, when they have child care they are able to look for a job, able to look for housing, but we're essentially taking that money away from them."
The city says the policy is designed to prevent the working homeless from becoming dependent on public assistance and to move families back into their own homes.
So what can the working homeless do if faced with the prospect of being kicked out under the policy? Princess Seyborn is filing an appeal with the state. But critics of the policy worry unless it is reversed, many working homeless will end up back on the streets.
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Rent should be charged according to a sliding scale based on salary. These people should be made to find jobs and work. We are creating another form of slavery in this country. I like to call it, "Welfare Slavery" and it passes from one generation to the next. They expect the government to do everything for them. I'm tired of my tax dollars that I work hard for continually going to the people who REFUSE to work. Do anything! collect trash, babysit, clean, cut grass, bus tables...just to start until something better comes along. What's so wrong with that? Our fathers did this as did their fathers. What a spoiled nation we are.
“Everybody else is doing it, and we’re told we have to do it, so we’re going to do it.”
Yavol Heir Commandante!
Bloomberg, the more I hear from him the less I like him.
Without knowing how much this lady makes, it is difficult to know if the rent is high for her wages or not. But, what I would think is that maybe the city should go ahead and enforce the law, BUT, put a portion of it back into a type of savings account for the homeless person(s) to use when they are ready to purchase or rent a place. This would help them not only to understand paying rent, but to save up the money for deposit and required rent to move into an apartment or down payment on a home.
well. you have a roof over your head. you have to pay.
this is NOT a welfare state. I worked hard and saved and live frugally to pay mortgage and provide for my family. so should she. $345 is reasonable to have a roof over your head plus all the utilities are free.
I don't see the problem here. If someone is in a shelter for a couple months, sure, they need time to get themselves back on their feet. But if you are in a shelter for over a year, you should have to pay rent, everthing can't be free to everyone that is down on their luck, people have to be responsible for themselves at some point.
Sorry, she has to pay bills like the rest of us – $345 in NYC is not even rent subsidy level – it's nothing. But the fact that she is being asked to pay this much provides a good idea of her income – and she has no business either living in NYC or in a homeless shelter. Instead she is being irresponsible and we are subsidizing it. The law is doing exactly what it was intended to.
These homeless shelters are simply trying to ween the homeless from living free off of our taxes and to learn responsibility and the consequences they must endure if they don't pay their fair share to our society. This issue should be shown/taught to our high school students to provide an example as to what might happen to them if they quit school and do not gain any skills or trades to help feed themselves and their kids. People MUST be taught responsibility or our society will be increasingly populated by unskilled, undereducated scrounges, living off the other citizens who DID pay attention in school and learned how to take care of them selves, their families and their country. In our global society, everyone must keep learning new skills and ideas to help the citizenry survive and prosper.
This is reasonable, no reason the public should 100% have to foot the bill for these people. However it should not be a set amount, should be based on income.
I am tired of hearing people say the Gov't should pay for this and that. I hope that they all realize that the money the Gov't uses is what we put in and I will be darned if I am going to pay for the mistakes of someone else. I think there should be a screening process for things like this so that the people that legitimately deserve services like this get it. I have seen too many people abuse the system all because they are lazy and don't want to work(I have one trying to marry into my family).
Kevin made a comment about the "Prison System" that I completely agree with. Stop letting people who don't deserve to live everyday live the rest of their life in prison where that is paid for by us. I have no problems paying for the homeless who deserve it and this prison money could be better used for the homeless which ultimately could eliminate a possible future inmate. This might also make people stop and think before they commit a horrible crime knowing they will be getting the death penalty. Wow we could possibly solve a couple of problems at once, what a concept!
Walk a mile in their shoes! I'm a bank loan officer and the economy has taken a nose dive. I may be in her shoes soon. I certainly don't judge her! With prayer and Jesus on my side... me and my two kids will make it! No matter what! So, don't judge!
Can taxpayers who DO pay for things like this claim her and her ilk as dependents (for indeed, that is what they are) to the IRS?
Hey, here's an idea: If you are homeless, on food stamps, or quite simply dirt poor, don't have ANYMORE CHILDREN! You'd think people would learn after the first child that they can't support financially. Quit adding to the problem and burdening the taxpayers with more money! If you know you can't pay the bills, quit giving birth to your 3rd, 4th, and 5th kids! Yeah, we know it might not be fair that some people who take advantage of the free money that the government gives them gives a bad reputation for the rest who follow the rules but you know what? It's like that everywhere! In school, one or two kids misbehave, the rest are punished by not having recess or watch a movie. On sports teams, one or two guys miss the time for the fitness test, all of the players are punished and have to repeat the fitness again all over again.
i know someone who is in a shelter, she does not work has 1 child and she recieves money from welfare...weather these people work or not, if they are earning an income in some way they should pay something, after all the shelter is providing food and a roof over there head...come on!!!!
I think it should be on a case by case basis. Being a religious, tax paying, US Citizen, I have no problem with my tax money going to help the less fortunate (Despite what the conservative below me believes... this is what was taught by Jesus... care for those less fortunate *tsk tsk*). However, only the most naive will believe that there aren't people taking advantage of the situation. If they can afford it, they should pay what they can afford, if they can't... then they should be worked with and compassion given.
You never know when you will be in the same situation, homeless and hungry, and hoping for the compassion from the American public and government. Put your hatred for the government behind your compassion for your fellow man...
I absolutely support the policy of charging these 'homeless' people rent! They aren't actually 'homeless' they live indefinetntly at the shelter so why shouldn't they pay a minimal rent? Our government gives too many handouts as it is, why should some people get free housing while the rest of us work extra hard to pay for ourselves?
Yes, how very "Republican" to want people to pay for their own room and board. I understand it is a homeless shelter, and I think they should be allowed to stay for a period of time without paying rent, especially if they are working to better themselves. However, allowing people to use hardworking people's tax money for free rent indefinitely is not the answer. People have to be accountable. If we let the government take care of everything we turn into a socialist nation, which is where we are headed. Personally I would rather work extra, pay my rent, and not have the government make my decisions for me. I value freedom more than most I guess.
The shelter should force the working people to save the money for 6 months so they can build up enough capital to get out on their own.
The shelter should force the non-working people to get out within 3 days.
If you are working you get 6 months.... if you are not working you get 3 days.
There are too many children being drug from one homeless shelter to another with no stability...... the shelter can at least take the children into account when forcing payments for staying. Isn't the point of the shelter to help people get back on their feet. Making them pay rent is like spinning your wheels.
To those who want the government (we, the people) to give everyone everything.... Socialism only looks good on paper.
To those who quote the Bible... Give a man a fish and he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetimes.
Yes, we should help the poor.. but a hand UP not a hand OUT!
YES MY NAME IS AHMED BUT PLEASE PUBLISH#2!
I kinda stand in the middle of agreement/disagreement about this policy. In one side, I believe that we can't let the homeless people stay in the shelter forever, especially if they started to earn some money and that we should keep a light pressure on them to work harder and earn more money so they can eventually leave the shelter for some other homeless that need it more than them. Also, what if some of those homeless people are sick or can't work, then this policy can't be applied on people can't work. So the choice for enforcing this law should be upon the shelter management review of each case individually.
On the other side, the timing for enforcing this 2007 policy is really interesting. Why did the city chose to enforce it only at this time? These days middle-working people even hurt from this economy. So the homeless should be even given a grace period, or this policy should be suspended till the economy comes back all together.
Thanks Jason
Check facts before you post. @JP – Bloomberg doesn't live in Gracie Mansion, you nitwit. He has his own house.
ddt Angel is one of the blind Obama Followers plain and simp-le–He walks on water ...Just ask her.
People really need to stop blaming others for their own decisions. Right now I am not at a point that I could afford certain things like children so I am not having one. Like it or not a choice she made has gotten her to the point she is at today. The problem is that people on the lower end of society generally do not pull themselves out of the hole even with assistance from the government and usually the opposite happens. Right now I could do something stupid and down the line ask the government(citizens) for help but why should someone pay for my mistakes? If you related this to raising a child it would be a horrible lesson and they would turn out a non-productive member of society. We're telling them don't worry because if you screw up someone else will fix it but not you. No personal responsibility these days.
A little off subject but the basic premise still applies.
This is hilarious. So she lives in a shelter but they call her homeless. Now they will charge her rent, which she should have to pay anyway, and they'll still call her homeless? Makes no sense at all. $345 a month for a place to stay in NYC? Not bad. I pay quite a bit more than that on a mortgage. I also know how to budget my money and save for hard times. And if I lose my job tomorrow, guess what? I'll go find 3 jobs if necessary to keep my house, car, etc. I'm not sure why working hard and adapting has become the exception in America. Wake up people. If you keep depending on the government for handouts they'll have a hand in everything you do. Screw that.
mike
If you have a job, you have to be responsible. If you don't have a job you still have to be responsible. Those of us that are working (I was laid off and had to get another job at less pay) still have to pay bills. I know that every situation is different and it would be nice to look at every case but we don't have people out there to do that...so a general law has to be set in place. I know it's tough out there and it's sad, but it's tough for all of us, not just the homeless. We all have our issues. Children should be our first priority in this country though and if they need help, someone better step up to the plate. How about it, people that don't believe in abortion..now is your turn to do something besides standing in front of an abortion clinic and then going home thinking you did something. Go help out your children that have no where to live and that were brought into this world of bad parents....go
Nick – If things are so much better in Iraq & Iran, you should probably move there. See just how much better it is. Being homeless in America is better than having a home in EITHER of those countries. Do they even HAVE shelters in Iraq? Wait a second, the only reason Iraq is anywhere close to safe for it's OWN civilians is because of the US military! Maybe we should quit helping out all the other failing 3rd world countries and concentrated on what our own country needs then you couldn't complain! I am a hard working contributor to my community, and I find it ridiculous that I work my tail off to pay my own way with no one's help, but everyone else EXPECTS someone to take care of them and all their problems. See how many in shelters are recovering addicts, felons, etc... Why should I have to pay their way too? Especially if they got themselves in that situation in the first place. Why does everything have to be free? If they can't learn to budget such a minimum amount for a shelter, how on earth do they expect to learn to pay for a real house or apartment? Quit riding other's coattails and take responsibility for your own situation.
It's immoral to charge rent to someone who has a job? Are you serious? I wish to God that you were my landlord. Though you probably wouldn't be for long since you wouldn't make any money. I think its silly to have a flat rate for all people who have a job since all jobs don't pay the same, but they should be required to pay somewhere between 5% and 10% of what they make. If they don't have these types of laws, people will shack up at a homeless shelter just to save on rent and they'll take away spots from people who actually need the shelter.
What does liberalism have to do with homeless people paying rent at a shelter? That arguement is so far reaching it becomes nonsense. Everyone who works should pay their way, imho. Being responsible for yourself might not be easy but millions of people somehow manage to – many with few resources.
Just another example of the "let 'em eat cake" philosophy engendered by conservative think tanks funded by the fat cats. First they practically destroy public housing by underfunding building repair and then make it barely possible to survive financially. Just one more conservative "con game".
$345 a month in rent, in New York? That's a steal! Sure it may not be the best place to live, but the cost of living there is sky high. I have compared what I make at my job with others in the region that do the same thing I do, and they make far more. I don't think it's that unreasonable for them to ask for a little help back. Teaching responsibility, is a good step to recovery. They can't depend on help forever. I'm a Democrat, but this is exactly why republicans don't want to pay taxes. People will sit pretty asking for handouts because they don't want to do what it takes to stay afloat. Sure you need more support in the beginning, but eventually you have to make some progress.
I am sorry. I dont feel sorry at all for her or anyone eles that wants a free ride. First of all where is the daddy? I have been a single mom for 12 years and have worked 70 and 80 hours a week as a finance manager in the car business. I HAVE NEVER EVER TOOK A HAND OUT and NEVER WILL. The govt owes us nothing. Get off your butt and pay your own way. Thats whats wrong with our country now people want a free ride. Nothing is free!
You know what–Suck it up people. She has a job and makes income she should be paying something rather than sucking theGovernment (taxpayer) teat.
IF the Mayor really cares about the mass of people filling these shelters, why isn't he helping out with this? It's his responsibility as Mayor!
A person with a job, complaining about spending $354 on rent per month in New York City, where the average low-priced apartment is over $1000 a month for an efficiency?
If NYC was charging the working homeless up to 50% of their monthly income to stay in a shelter, that would indicate that this woman makes $17, 000 a year, which is a very low income for NYC, but highly unlikely the city is charging 50% of her monthly income for rent. Where does the rest of the money go if she gets free daycare (I would assume, since she works at a day care center), and only pays for groceries?
The fallacy of this policy is that it assumes that the amount spent to "pay" the shelter – $345/month – is enough to get this woman a 1-bedroom or studio apartment for herself and her child, which in New York City is crazy. She is not becoming dependent on public services because she is spending the money elsewhere, she is becoming dependent on public services because there IS NOWHERE ELSE she could get appropriate housing for this amount of money. The money needs to be saved, not given to the city to bail out their failed real estate investment schemes (which is most likely what they are doing). She should not have to subsidize the city's bad budget policy.
A lot of these comments amount to "eat the rich" It might be hard for this woman but the rules are the rules. Our constitution says nothing about free housing if you can't afford it. $345/month is about 1 week's pay at a $10/hour job. In my experience day care is a full time, 40 hour a week gig. Whats the problem? What other bills does she have? SHE LIVES IN A SHELTER! If shes making so little money shes on medicaid (or should be). Even with a car payment I can't imagine she can't swing this with a full time job.
Forget the minutia. Its the right thing to do, how can she hope to survive outside the shelter if she can't come up with $345 in rent? If you end up as a ward of the system you have to live by the system's rules. And it sucks,
NYC and NY State have to be out of their minds. This is a disgusting policy. Let me take someone who is already struggling and make it more difficult for them? We need to figure out what type of training and support our homeless need so they can move from the shelter.
'How very Republican'... what an insightful statement. Did you know he was a lifelong democrat, changed to repub, and now is independent? And to all of you bashing on Bloombergs house, did you ever stop to realize that this is capitalism at its finest... he founded a successful company... now he has lots of money... should he be in a shelter too so it will be 'fair'? How democratic...
Question to TCM, should any attempt to break the homelessness cycle be made? I am struggling just to make it from month to month without any stimulus or assistance from any government agency or program, and I realized that I am blessed beyond measure, but for the grace of God go I. A catastrophic event or illness could wipe out any of us and it would NOT be the fault of Obama or even former president Bush. We as people MUST still try to hold on to the milk of human kindness and compassion regardless of who owns an i-phone or not, it's possible he won it at the some of the give-aways of iphones in the city as my 73 year old neighbor did who is on disability and is receiving public meals, he neither knows how to use it nor does he have need for it but it's his. Come on TCM? I think the working homeless should pay into a system that would transition them into their own personal living space, which would be a forced savings of sort. Out of those funds a percentage should be used to assist in the maintenence of the homeless shelter program.
Angel you are an idiot, calling this a Republican issue. It is an economic issue, you are a democrat obviously and on the dole.
My comment is this..."AND??????"
Is this article really about people having to pay rent for where they live?
Has our society really gotten to the point that this is newsworthy?
Shame on James Carroll for writing it in this manner, making people paying their own rent to appear an atrocity. Mr. Carroll, if you and your liberal friends would like to help the homeless, reach into YOUR pocket and give them YOUR money.
Instead of charging these people rent why don't they allow the working homeless to save money for a few months so they can put a deposit down and pay moving expenses? That makes more sense to me.
So we simply need to calculate dependents in the way they're calculated in with taxes. The pay-to-stay policy is (for the most part) a good idea and necessary to prevent squatting. You shouldn't abolish this policy because of the occasional story like this slipping through the cracks.
You have got to be kidding! Why isn't the system helping find affordable housing? That's absurd with charging someone rent for a shelter! If this law was in effect in 1997, why all of a sudden the change in policy? This is so wrong on so many levels!
Okay - charge them rent. It makes sense. However, do what I did with my children. Put the money in a trust for these people. What that did was teach my children how to budget and save. Then when it was time for them to move on, they had a nice little next egg to help then get started in the next stage of their lives. This being a government bureaucracy and all, I'm sure there will be administrative expenses, etc. so maybe they should only get back a percentage of what they paid, but the theory's the same.
If that woman could save that $350.00 for 6 months, she would probably have enough to rent her own space. MY GOSH! why wouldn't the CITY OF NEW YORK- WHERE THE TAXES ARE ASTRONOMICAL give the working homeless a break! May be the Mayor of New York shouild try to live with her money. Let's see Mr. Mayor go on and try to live and feed your children with that little money. you know, the money you spend in ONE DAY and she makes in THREE MONTHS.
Are you kidding??? Oh My Gosh..imagine having to pay rent! What kind of idiotic statement is that! Imagine paying rent or a mortgage every month...buying your own food, clothes, furnishings etc..my first job was as a day care worker and guess what I was a single mom to a 3 year old little girl..I managed to rent a very small 1 bedroom apt and drive a clunker car that was paid for! My town didn't have public transportation so spare me someone who has to pay their own way! How have we all managed thus far??
That is just outrageous. My heart goes out for those who need to pay rent. They obviously cannot pay the rent, otherwise, they would not be at the shelter in the first place. They need help. There should be no rent. They should be able to save money so that they can move out the shelter to their own home. Nobody wants to be at a shelter. This country is just merciless on poor. I do agree in one thing when it comes to higher education, that poor should not be given a free ride to high education just because they are poor. Middle class would have to take student loans, pay back most of their lives and still live in poor conditions whereas a poor may get a free education, not pay back no loans and have a good life.
This WOULD be a great policy if they would just charge homeless people to live in only manhattan shelters, UNLESS they had severe mental illness or handicap of course, AND have a shelter in the far North Bronx that would be free. Then simply have a shuttle that will take the homeless to the free shelter, one way trip. You would make your money back in value for the city not having those homeles downtown all of the time. The ones that are downtown often bank it asking hundreds of people per hour for 5 dollars, all day long.
this has nothing to do with liberalism or republican vs. democrat. There are people with legitimate problems and are victims of systemic injustice. The reality is that if we were in a similar position we would be looking for a handout or better a hand up as well. I pray that we're able to step out of our condos, apartments, and houses and remember that 1 out 8 children in this country is in poverty.
THATS JUST WRONG! AND SICK! THE CITY OF NEW YORK SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES! THESE PEOPLE BARELY MAKE ENOUGH TO MAKE FOOD TO EAT LET ALONE PAY RENT! OUST THESE MORONS RUNNING THE CITY GOVERNMENT!
WHATS NEXT CHARGE THEM TO TAKE SHOWERS TOO????
I KNOW LETS CHARGE THEM FOR THE AIR THEY INHALE THERE WE GO! NOW THAT WORKS!!!
TCM, What an idiot. There goes another person who lives somewhere else.
i can not belive this if they have money they would pay rent to get a new house or i mean any kind of house to me that is the rich trying to hurt the people that need it the most that mayor could work something out
Excuse me? Raping the country? There have been two distinct classes for years.
This is ridiculous and it defeats the whole purpose of a homeless shelter.
As a past case worker for a homeless shelter I can speak authority here....First, the government has the wrong approach to charge rent..it would be much more logical (as a staying requirement) to have a resident who WORKS to put 15% in a savings account until they are able to accumulate at least $2500 to 3500 to obtain an apt. of their own. It's a vicous cycle to treat homeless shelters as permanat housing with rent payments. Mayor Bloombury overlooks that in 2009 those seeking shelter housing are the working poor ...surely there is an adjustment needed to this policy. NYS KNOWS BETTER!
I have been in this young woman's shoes and I do not understand the Mayors position. I do agree that if you have earnings and are able to contribute financially to support your living situation then you need to do so but if you are are barely able to cover food and clothing what are you to do. I worked very hard to get employment and may daughter and I were able to pull ourselves out but this is a very hard thing to do and when you are alone and you have nothing this just feels like another piece of your life being destroyed or taken away. I pray for everyone who is homeless or hungry right now.
I applaud this policy of forcing the homeless to become more independent and forced to get actice in looking for work and less dependent on the good ol' government to support them. Maybe if they could find to lower the rent that would help. Too often I see people come through my line in the grocery store with foodstamps and what do they buy right along with their food? Alcohol, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. Not exactly a good way of saving money and canceling out the help from the government.
I feel that if you have an income, you should pay something. $345 is a little extreme, but something should be paid. This woman has a job and might need to consider a new housing situation that dose not involve living in NYC. The sad truth is, if you cannot afford it, do not live there.
“The city says the policy is designed to prevent the working homeless from becoming dependent on public assistance and to move families back into their own homes.”
Shame on her for being a working homeless person. How?
I mean, it is not like she is a banker, AIG employee, GM executive or an Enron executive who has robbed people of millions of dollars and is currently enjoying the benefits of a state sponsored bonus.
Who names their kid "Princess? Honestly people! If you can't feed them, don't breed them!
May 11th, 2009 10:32 am ET
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PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY RENT, NOR SHOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE . THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAYING THIS FOR THESE PEOPLE, SO THEY CAN SAVE UP TO MOVE OUT AND START OVER.
Of course that an homeless who can make money has to pay his rent no matter where he or she lives. If not, wouldn't that be easy for anyone to go stay there. As long as you can make a dollars, the rent is the most primary thing. That's it..
ok....so who should pay their rent? Me? You? No, we're paying enough in taxes already. Besides, remember Michelle Obama at the soup kitchen, getting photographed by a $400 I-Phone...owned by a homeless guy? Most of us hardworking taxpayers can't afford an I-Phone...yet, this clown, getting another free lunch has one? Give me a break...save these sob stories. By the time Obama gets through raping the country, they'll be two distinct classes; very rich and very poor. The majority of us will fall into the very poor; right where the demoliberals want us...so they can spew "hope and change," again at next election. Just why do you think he planned for so much of the Stimupork money to be released in his last term year? To buy more votes! Liberalism is a disease!
PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY RENT,
SHOULD THEY HAVE TO PAY FOR CHILDCARE . THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD BE PAYING THIS FOR THESE PEOPLE, SO THEY CAN SAVE UP TO MOVE OUT AND START OVER.
Why not attempt to enforce it but keep the moneys on their behalf to give them when they are able to move to a home of their own? I don't know how you can expect people who are trying to get on their feet and probably have pretty lousy employment, to get back on their feet while paying moneys for services they only need out of desperation. That's like saying that people should go and pay huge sums for emergency room care because they don't have health insurance. Oh, wait...
Capitalism without Human Touch.
"The city says the policy is designed to prevent the working homeless from becoming dependent on public assistance and to move families back into their own homes."
How?
This is absurd! We already don't do enough to inspire people off the streets. It is more costly to have our people remain homeless than it is to treat the problem!
If they have to pay rent, it should go into escrow towards first/last/deposit for their own home!
We pay more having homeless linger in the criminal justice system for minor offenses than we do to HELP them!
Justin Early
http://www.streetchildmemoir.com
Greed trumps compassion and love for our fellow brothers and sisters again.
I completely agree with the statement, "The city says the policy is designed to prevent the working homeless from becoming dependent on public assistance and to move families back into their own homes." There's a well known saying, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch." If the lady doesn't make enough money to support her family and what she has, then she either needs to get a better paying job or get rid of whatever else she is paying for. I would sure like to drive a Bentley but I don't have the money for it so I don't have one because I know I wouldn't be able to support myself or my family. I'm tired of people thinking the government should take care of them. Why not take care of yourself!!
One addition that should be made to the policy is that those clients who are ABLE to pay a prorated rent amount based on household size, income, resources etc. should have that money put into an escrow account. Once the family as accrued a substantial amount of income, it should be used to secure a down payment on housing as well as provide some financial security during their transition. There is nothing wrong with asking someone to pay their share so long as they have something to pay.
More stupid policies designed to keep people homeless. Stop housing so many people in prisons and use the money to provide homeless people with what they really need... a home!
Sounds rotten!
Oh, my gosh. We are a heartless bunch of money mongers. How can we fix this? We need to stop stop stop listening to the bean counters and lawyers, and just do the right thing, to quote Mr. Lee.
This is sicking for all the money states charge in taxes these people are homeless can not afford to live on what they make. Give America a break and stop helping everyone else and help real Americans!
Her name is "Princess"?
Easy for "Bloomie" to say while he looks out of his Gracie Mansion window.
I think it should be based on a the salary and the number of occupants not a flat amount.
This is disgusting, immoral, and inexcusable. I am embarrassed by my country for allowing this. People are treated better in Iraq or Iran. this policy makes no sense and is written as if people enjoy living in a shelter and would do anything to avoid leaving.
If those living in a shelter are working, I think they should pay for a portion of the exepenses. You cannot live for free and letting people live off tax payers money has contrubuted to the decline in the econmoy. My tax dollars are ment to pay for things that I never benefit from. I think it is only fair for those on welfare, living in shelters etc that are employed be expected to pay for themselves. I wich my mortgage was onyl $345 a month.... that is a bargain of a deal.
Handouts have gotten us in this rut.. its time we stop just handing over money hand over fist and start making people hold themselves accountable.
Yet another example of how we are slowly losing our soul as a society. Every time you turn around, the government steals from the poor to cover the mistakes of the people in charge.
Counting on the homeless for money to make your budget right, where do people come up with this? This is an example of how little thought and planning goes into the infrastructure of this country,
I feel bad for her situation however it says that she is daycare worker. If her young daughter is in daycare, then she probably gets free daycare for her. My son goes to daycare and that is what the women who work there get. They are also paid fairly well, at least better than flipping burgers, so I imagine she can afford to pay something for living in the homeless shelter – maybe not $345 but something.
So people will quit their jobs so they wont have to worry about the rent. Once again, a law without any thought as to how it will really work.
No matter what religion you might subscribe to and no matter what you might call the higher power, rest easy in knowing all those who support measures like charging the homeless rent will be judged in the end. All who pursue such measures will rot in hell where they belong!!!!
I think people that are living in homeless shelters that have jobs should pay rent. The government wasn't put in place to support the people-no one said life was easy. I was a single working mother- I worked hard to get out from where I was. It's hard work...
why are there jobs that dont pay enough to house, feed and clothe a mother and child? ceo salaries should be much much less and the wages for the working poor should be much much higher. such disparities are outrageous in this pleantiful country.
That is just wrong to charge homeless people rent in a shelter. They are there in the 1st place due to lack of money or no place to live. Now they want to charge these people who actually need their money unlike other people. That is just wrong.
How can she be homeless if she's living in a shelter? Because she doesn't own the place she's living in? Doesn't that make all my tenants homeless too?
$345/month seems VERY cheap for a NY apartment, so I don't think the city is ripping her off.
On a side note, the construction company I work for won a $1.6million contract to renovate a 12-unit apartment building in upstate NY. That's $133,333 per unit in an area where houses can be bought for $60,000 or so.
The kicker...those $133,333 units are for the homeless.
Sometimes, I just don't understand the government.
I agree that some amount should be charged. Maybe by income. Everyone else that works has to pay child care and living costs. Maybe they should be given a break on how much is charged so that eventually they can move out to thier own places. I don't think that they should be able to live there indefinatly with no cost to them when they are making some income. No one else is given a free ride. They have no incentive to want to move on.
Finally, the government is taking a stand and not giving a "free lunch". This has been long over due!
Homeless people who have a job, should be required to pay rent in accordance with their salary and family size. It assists in the learning process of how to manage your finances. This will educate the family in how to be successful in society.
Ya know,
I wanna feel sorry for her....I really do! But I dont really have the time.
I've got to get too work because the mortgage (That I've been paying ON TIME FOR THE LAST 12 YEARS) payment is due before the 15th.
So, instead of just working my ussual 1 job (22 years with the second largest telecommunicatiuons in the U.S,) I now work 2 so that I can ALSO afford to pay the tuition bill for both of my children.
So you see, I really dont have time too feel sorry for her. I owe I owe so off to work I go.
I'd rather work my arse off at too jobs then take a handout. I'm definetly becoming a minority in this country!
I used to work in a homeless shelter in Florida, 10 years ago they were doing the same thing. I don't know what the fuss is all about, for $11.5 a day a mother and child get food and a room. If she is working everyday the first hour and a half goes to room and board. Yes, it is tough, but it is fair. There is no reason she should not be expected to contribute to these expenses.
CNN should not use such provocative headlines.
If you read up on this law it is very reasonable. If you are making around $1,000 a month and living at a homeless shelter they will ask for a little over $100. This is to maintain their facility. Electricity costs money. Food costs money.
These shelters are just asking for enough to get by. They had to make it a law because so many people in our society don't have the decency to do the right thing, which is really sad.
Speaking as a former social worker and now an advocate for mothers, this is the stupidest thing I've ever heard of. "The city says the policy is designed to prevent the working homeless from becoming dependent on public assistance and to move families back into their own homes." How ridiculous! This move will clearly make the families MORE dependent as they will end up losing their jobs! And we all know welfare is no safety net anymore. DESPICABLE, Mayor Bloomberg.
Somehow a man with a personal fortune as large as Bloomberg's should know when to keep quiet. However putting your money where your mouth is seem to be very accurate. Let them eat cake, right Michael.
in her case though, she is taking care of a daughter, is not on drugs, is working a job
she probably needs more of a lift than a rent shock to get her back on her feet
but... others might need a rent like encouragement
making free loaders pay rent to try to get them on their own seems to make 'tough love' sense
America–the greatest nation in the land? Is this a joke? We're the only industrialized nation in the world that cannot provide for our weakest members. Way to go, America!!! I'll give it around #90 in the world.
These shelters get funding... why are they asking the homeless for rent? hhhmmm................ better check into who is keeping the books at the shelters!!! someone is profiting.... and its nto the homeless.
How very Republican. It's a horrible state of affairs when this country fails its citizens on so many levels. This also encourages the homeless NOT to work. She'd likely be better off loafing around the shelter and taking care of her kid and not working. That's pathetic. Here is a woman - representative of many other homeless - who is trying desperately to carve out a life for herself and her child. I"m sure she doesn't WANT to live in a shelter - but it's all she has for now. And if they'd get off her back, she might be able to afford an actual home for her and her child. But no - they want to take what little she's got. I hope Bloomberg is comfy and cozy in his mansion.