STOP THE SWEEPS, END THE CUTS, FUND SAFE HOUSING AND STABILIZATION NOW!

NEW YORK, NY (03/18/2022) (readMedia)-- The recent, tragic shootings and murders of homeless people in DC and NYC have shown the general public what homeless New Yorkers and their allies have known for far too long: sweeping people off the streets and subways and into a broken and dangerous shelter system will always fail, and leave people experiencing homelessness vulnerable to violence and harm.

New York City is continuing to make the same terrible and deadly policy choices it has made for decades, and homeless people will continue to die as a result of those choices. Mayor Adams' current "safety" plan is doomed to fail. An estimated 1,000 people are currently living in the subways in NYC, and there are only 350 stabilization beds available. Our community has said again and again they feel safer on the streets than in the city shelter system. Mayor Adams must listen and fund safe haven and other alternatives now.

WHO:

Housing Works and allies including Open Hearts Initiative, VOCAL-NY, SURJ and others (list in progress). Speakers TBA.
WHAT:

 Safe Housing Now rally and protest calling upon Mayor Adams to abandon a failed strategy of sweeping homeless New Yorkers off of subways and streets and into dangerous shelters. We demand safe haven beds, stabilization hotels and respite hotels, with services and support to transition people to safe and stable housing. The City must also halt the Mayor’s proposed cuts to critical social service agencies.
WHEN: Friday March 18, 2022 at 11:00AM Eastern Time (US & Canada)
WHERE: City Hall Park
Broadway & Chambers St
New York, New York
NOTES:

 The event will be livestreamed: https://twitter.com/housingworks