Why Is Homelessness Worse Than It's Ever Been in New York?

 


Photo Credit: Inam - stock.adobe.com

Wherever you go in this city, you are bound to see one or more members of the dispossessed. As heart-breaking as this sight may be, the homelessness crisis is much worse. Most of those experiencing homelessness in the United States don’t actually live on the streets. Instead, they live doubled, tripled, quadrupled up in the homes of family or friends, crammed into one of New York City’s countless shelters or surreptitiously residing in places not designated for human habitation. This blog post will discuss why homelessness is worse than it’s ever been in New York and what may be done about it.

Is New York City Failing? 

Given the levels of homelessness and extreme poverty in the United States at large and its largest city in particular, one might assume that New York City is failing. But that’s not quite true. Though his book chronicles the trials and tribulations of five Black families in metro Atlanta, the truths Brian Goldstone revealed in There Is No Place For Us and on our podcast could easily be applied to The Big Apple. Strictly speaking, New York City and many other American cities aren’t failing. In fact, more capital flows through them than ever before. 

What Is Driving Homelessness in New York?

Urban renewal projects make neighborhoods more appealing to those wishing to make money and those with money, causing property values to rise. However, wages - especially on the lower end of the spectrum - have not and cannot keep up with the inflated cost of living. As we explained in a previous blog post, housing in New York City costs the equivalent of $23 dollars an hour, whereas the minimum wage is $16.50 per hour. The cost increases with every dependent and, thus, far too many people are priced out of their housing and cast adrift. 

How Do We Reduce Homelessness in New York? 

In his appearance on our podcast, Brian Goldstone noted that New York City is in a league of its own. If transplanted elsewhere, the wages of our city’s working homeless population would fund a comfortable, if modest lifestyle. Likewise, New Yorkers enjoy more protections than their peers around the nation. For example, New York is the only big city that recognizes shelter as a basic human right, provides many more millions of dollars in resources and has been extensively rezoned to promote the construction of affordable housing. 

However, The Big Apple suffers from the same basic human flaw as all cities: Where there is money to be made, there is greed. Simply put, affordable housing is just not as profitable as properties for middle and upper income families. 

While we endeavor to maintain strict political neutrality at all levels of government, it is incumbent upon those with financial, political and voting power to demand more from our leaders. Nobody can purge our species of avarice and other basic animal instincts. However, regulations - complete with both inducements and consequences - could make such inclinations far less profitable. 

Mentor A Promise and its network of partner organizations are a good place to start for those wishing to make a difference in the greatest city in the world. 

Contact Mentor A Promise Today 

Our organization recognizes the immense potential within each individual and seeks to provide them with the educational resources and opportunities they need to thrive. To that end, we have built a strong network of family shelters, educational institutions and community organizations to support homeless children, youths and their families. Click these links to learn more about what we offer or to get involved. Together, we can break the cycle of homelessness. 

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