Guest Editor: Andrew Cuomo

This year, we have seen the number of homeless people in New York City's shelter system skyrocket. The faltering economy, combined with the failure of our State to provide sufficient supportive housing and permanent affordable housing, have produced a crisis. The problem is particularly disturbing because we have been here before; we know how to address the problem.
In 1986, I founded an organization called HELP, the Housing Enterprise for the Less Privileged. HELP created a new model for transitional housing by challenging old ideas about homelessness. At the time, many argued that solving the homelessness problem was just about the government providing housing, while others argued that the problem stemmed only from mental illness or drug abuse among those who became homeless. HELP was built on the premise that we must provide both affordable housing and supportive services to address problems faced by those who were homeless. The organization pioneered new approaches to helping its residents become independent and productive citizens by offering a coordinated program of housing, education, job training, substance abuse, and mental health services. HELP has since become the nation's largest provider of homeless housing and services.

In 1991, Mayor David Dinkins appointed me to lead New York City's Commission on the Homeless to draw up a blueprint for addressing the problem of homelessness. Our report provided the roadmap for providing shelter and services to address the City's homelessness problem through a "continuum of care" for clients. When I went to Washington to serve as Assistant Secretary and then as Secretary of HUD, we used that roadmap to redesign HUD's homeless programs to provide a "continuum of care" in communities across the nation.

At present, as housing prices and rents continue to climb despite the poor economy, New York remains without sufficient permanent affordable housing. And despite the tremendous work of providers across the City and State, we still lack sufficient supportive housing for those who need services to maintain stability. Between January 1998 and January 2002, the number of adults sleeping in New York City's homeless shelters each night increased by 47%. And, sadly, 42% of the City's homeless are children. This is more than in any time in New York City's history. We need a stronger commitment from Albany to address the problem and to support those non-profit providers that serve homeless New Yorkers.

The three providers featured in this issue are on the front lines fighting for shelter, meals, and jobs for those in need. The Partnership for the Homeless plays a critical role in obtaining shelter for homeless people, and in advocating for more program support. The New York Coalition Against Hunger helps soup kitchens and food pantries to facilitate a safety net of meals for the hungry. Streetwise Partners, Inc. pairs accomplished business professionals with people who have barriers to employment. Through their mentoring, job training, interview assistance, and referral services, these people find jobs that can mean the difference between self-sufficiency and homelessness. With the work of these committed providers and a renewed commitment from Albany, we can help thousands of homeless families and individuals get back on their feet.

Andrew Cuomo

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger

The New York City Coalition Against Hunger represents New York City's more than 1200 nonprofit soup kitchens and food pantries, and the more than one million low-income New Yorkers forced to rely on those agencies to feed themselves and their families.
Interfaith Voices Against Hunger-  program of the Coalition that engages religious and civic leaders and people of varied faiths in addressing hunger and advocating for intensified government action to end hunger.

 
Voices works to expand and simplify access to food stamps and other government nutrition assistance programs, support the passage of living-wage and minimum-wage legislation, increase government support for food pantries and soup kitchens, and improve government services for people unable to work and people entering the workforce.

The Emergency Food Action Center- one of the first programs in the nation to provide comprehensive technical assistance to soup kitchens and food pantries. The Action Center helps emergency food programs improve their operations, including fundraising, grant writing, job training and education.

The Partnership for The Homeless

is a 20 year old agency that provides critical services for homeless people in New York City.
The Partnership collaborates with churches, synagogues and community groups to provide a network of more than 100 small, overnight shelters for homeless adults. A wide range of additional services is targeted to homeless families, elderly people and families and individuals with HIV/AIDS.  The Partnership’s mission is to attack the root causes of homelessness and empower homeless people to secure permanent housing and reach the highest level of independence.
The Partnership helps homeless New Yorkers through the following-service programs:
Peter's Place -  24 hour multi-service center that assists over 175 homeless elderly men and women each day.
Homeless Adults Living in Public Places - mobile outreach unit encourages people living on the street to seek help, and each night  coordinates small “safe-haven” shelters for 600 individuals at more than 100church and synagogue shelters.
Services for Families and Children - provides housing, workforce development  and aftercare for families making the transition from shelters to homes, works with homeless families to help their children receive good educational services..
Individuals and Families Affected By HIV/AIDS - provides housing assistance, access to medical care, counseling and legal advocacy for individuals and families dealing with HIV and AIDS.
Workforce Development - staff and workshops provide job and soft-skill training and career placement for homeless and formerly homeless men and women.
Furnish-A-Future - provides free distribution of donated furniture and household items to over 2,000 newly-housed families and individuals each