♪♪

>> FUNDING FOR THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT"

HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY...

THE RAUCH FOUNDATION...

AND BY THE JPB FOUNDATION...

AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

>> HELLO, AND THANK YOU FOR

BEING WITH US.

I'M JIM PAYMAR WITH THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT."

ACROSS AMERICA, POVERTY IS

INCREASING RAPIDLY, BUT NOT

WHERE YOU MIGHT EXPECT.

IN THE LAST DECADE, THE NUMBER

OF POOR RESIDENTS IN THE SUBURBS

OF THE LARGEST METROPOLITAN

AREAS GREW AT TWICE THE RATE OF

CITIES ACCORDING TO THE

BROOKINGS INSTITUTION.

THE OVERALL PERCENTAGE OF PEOPLE

LIVING IN POVERTY IN THE SUBURBS

OF GREATER NEW YORK, WHICH

INCLUDES NASSAU AND SUFFOLK

COUNTIES, INCREASED BY OVER 35%

IN THAT TIME PERIOD.

IN 2015, NEARLY 4,000 PEOPLE

ACROSS LONG ISLAND WERE

EITHER LIVING IN SHELTERS,

EMERGENCY HOUSING, OR ON THE

STREETS.

HERE ON THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT,"

WE'LL BE REPORTING ON THE ISSUE

OF POVERTY AND HOW IT IMPACTS

OUR REGION'S ECONOMY.

IT'S PART OF OUR STATION'S

ONGOING REPORTING INITIATIVE,

"CHASING THE DREAM -- POVERTY

AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA."

WE BEGIN WITH AN INSIDE LOOK AT

ONE OF THE DOZENS OF HOMELESS

SHELTERS ACROSS LONG ISLAND,

BETHANY HOUSE IN BALDWIN, WHICH

HAS BEEN ASSISTING HOMELESS

WOMEN AND CHILDREN FOR NEARLY

40 YEARS.

FROM THE OUTSIDE, THIS ROOSEVELT

RESIDENCE LOOKS LIKE AN AVERAGE

SUBURBAN HOME.

BUT STEP INSIDE, AND YOU'LL FIND

A SUPPORTING COMMUNITY HELPING

HOMELESS WOMEN FIND A WAY BACK

ON THEIR FEET.

>> EVERY ROOM HAS A DIFFERENT

PERSONALITY, SO THE DYNAMICS

CHANGE AS THE FAMILY NEEDS

PRESENT THEMSELVES.

>> THIS IS BETHANY HOUSE, A

NONPROFIT AGENCY THAT WAS

FOUNDED IN RESPONSE TO A GROWING

NEED FOR EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR

WOMEN AND THEIR CHILDREN WHO

BECOME CAUGHT IN THE TRAP OF

HOMELESSNESS.

>> BEING A SINGLE PARENT, IT'S

VERY DIFFICULT TO FIND

AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ONE

INCOME.

AND ESPECIALLY IF YOU'RE WORKING

PART TIME AND GOING TO SCHOOL,

IT'S HARD TO FIND A COMFORTABLE

PLACE TO LIVE WITH THAT SORT OF

INCOME.

>> BETHANY HOUSE PROVIDES BOTH

EMERGENCY AND LONG-TERM SHELTER

FOR WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES FOR

AS LONG AS THEY NEED.

ACCORDING TO THE SHELTER, 94% OF

RESIDENTS WHO HAVE STAYED LONGER

THAN TWO WEEKS HAVE FOUND SAFE

PERMANENT HOUSING.

ONE OF THESE WOMEN IS

JUANITA BOPP-DOYLE, WHO LIVED AT

BETHANY FOR SIX MONTHS AND,

AFTER LEAVING, HAS STAYED

INVOLVED TO BE SORT OF A MENTOR

TO OTHER WOMEN LIVING HERE.

>> MY GOALS ARE, EVERY CHANCE,

EVERY MOMENT THAT I HAVE, TO

COME AND HELP SOMEBODY, YOU

KNOW, JUST GET THROUGH THE

SHELTER EXPERIENCE.

I WILL DO THAT.

>> FOR SISTER AIMEE KOONMEN,

FOUNDER AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

OF BETHANY HOUSE, IT'S ALL ABOUT

PROVIDING SUPPORT AND GIVING

BACK.

>> IT'S SO IMPORTANT TO THE

OTHER WOMEN TO SEE SOMEONE WHO'S

BEEN SUCCESSFUL AND COMES BACK.

WE ALSO CREATE A REAL

INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY IN OUR

HOUSES OF A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO

ARE THROWN TOGETHER BY

CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT BECOME A

COMMUNITY OF PEOPLE WHO CARE

ABOUT ONE ANOTHER.

>> BETHANY HOUSE CONSISTS OF

FIVE RESIDENCES WITH THE

CAPACITY TO HOUSE UP TO 85

HOMELESS WOMEN AND CHILDREN

NIGHTLY.

MANY OF THE RESIDENTS AT

BETHANY HOUSE ARE HERE BECAUSE

OF FORECLOSURE.

>> I HAVE BEEN RENTING, AND

EVERY HOUSE THAT I HAVE BEEN TO

SEEMED TO GO INTO FORECLOSURE BY

THE TIME I SIGNED THE LEASE, SO

IT BECAME NECESSARY FOR ME TO

SEEK SOURCING -- OUTSOURCING

HELP FROM OTHER RESOURCES SUCH

AS THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL

SERVICES.

>> I CAME HERE THROUGH

FORECLOSURE, AND I WAS LIVING

WITH MY DAUGHTER, AND HER HOUSE

WENT INTO FORECLOSURE, SO MY

SONS AND I, WE NEEDED TO COME TO

BETHANY.

>> HOMELESS WOMEN CAN APPLY TO

THE DEPARTMENT OF

SOCIAL SERVICES FOR HOUSING

ASSISTANCE, BUT THE AID PACKAGE

CAN FALL SHORT IN LONG ISLAND'S

RENTAL MARKET.

>> A MOTHER AND ONE WOULD BE

ALLOWED $334 A MONTH.

IN NASSAU COUNTY, YOU CAN'T RENT

A ROOM FOR UNDER $600 OR $700.

SO THE DEPARTMENT DOUBLES THE

AMOUNT TO $668, BUT YOU CAN

HARDLY RENT A ROOM FOR $668.

SO IT'S VERY, VERY HARD FOR THE

FAMILY, EVEN A WORKING FAMILY,

TO GET BACK ON THEIR FEET.

>> THE WOMEN AT BETHANY HOUSE

WORK TOGETHER IN THE JOB-SEEKING

PROCESS, GIVING EACH OTHER

GUIDANCE NEEDED TO ACHIEVE

STABILITY.

>> I DO HOUSING SEARCH.

I DO WORK SEARCHES.

WE SOMETIMES GO TO THE LIBRARY

TOGETHER.

AS GUESTS, THE OTHER LADIES

HERE ARE TERRIFIC.

IT'S LIKE A NEW FAMILY.

>> IT'S ALL ABOUT CREATING A

HOME FOR LONG ISLAND'S NEEDIEST

WHEN THEY PERHAPS HAVE NOWHERE

ELSE TO TURN.

>> I'M VERY BLESSED TO HAVE GONE

THROUGH BETHANY.

SOME PEOPLE WILL SAY TO ME,

"OH, HOW COULD YOU SAY YOU WERE

BLESSED TO BE HOMELESS?"

BUT I WAS NEVER HOMELESS.

WHEN I CAME TO BETHANY, I HAD

NEVER HAD A HOME.

AND I FOUND A HOME AT BETHANY.

>> I CAN'T IMAGINE HAVING BEEN

BLESSED ANY MORE THAN TO BE ABLE

TO LIVE WITH PEOPLE WHO

STRUGGLE.

IT KEEPS US VERY CLOSE TO THE

REALITIES OF LIFE, AND HOW CLOSE

WE ALL ARE TO EXPERIENCING THE

SAME KIND OF PAIN.

>> I'M JOINED NOW BY

SISTER AIMEE KOONMEN, EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF BETHANY HOUSE OF

NASSAU COUNTY.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH

US, SISTER.

>> YOU'RE VERY WELCOME.

>> HOW HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO

MAINTAIN BETHANY HOUSE AT SUCH A

HIGH STANDARD FOR SUCH A LONG

PERIOD OF TIME?

>> WELL, WE'VE HAD THE FORTUNATE

HELP OF MANY, MANY PEOPLE, AND

THERE IS SOME FEDERAL MONIES,

ALSO, THAT WE'RE ABLE TO DIP

INTO TO HELP US KEEP GOING AND

PROVIDE GOOD SERVICE FOR OUR

HOMELESS FAMILIES.

>> HOW HAVE YOU SEEN THINGS

CHANGE OVER TIME?

IT'S BEEN 40 YEARS YOU...

>> JUST ABOUT, YES.

>> HOW HAS THE HOMELESS

SITUATION AND POVERTY CHANGED IN

LONG ISLAND?

>> OH, I THINK IT'S CHANGED

DRASTICALLY.

BACK IN '78, WHEN WE BEGAN, WHEN

YOU TYPED INTO THE COMPUTER THE

WORD "HOMELESS" AND SPELL CHECK

WOULD COME UP AND CORRECT YOU TO

"HOPELESS."

>> [ LAUGHS ]

>> IT WASN'T EVEN A TERM AT THAT

POINT.

AND WHEN WE STARTED IN '78,

THERE WERE NO SHELTERS IN

NASSAU COUNTY -- OR, I BELIEVE,

ON LONG ISLAND -- FOR HOMELESS

FAMILIES.

WE BEGAN BACK THEN AND IT WAS

USUALLY -- ACTUALLY, WE STARTED

WITH INTACT FAMILIES -- THE MOM

ANDDAD AND CHILD, AND THEN SOON

REALIZED THAT WHEN THERE WAS A

FATHER IN THE FAMILY, AT THAT

TIME, HE OFTEN WAS KIND OF

ANOTHER CHILD FOR THE MOTHER.

SO, LITTLE BY LITTLE, WE

SWITCHED OVER TO JUST TAKING IN

WOMEN AND CHILDREN, WHICH WE'VE

DONE OVER THE YEARS.

AND THE CHANGES WE'VE SEEN -- WE

WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE

CRACK-EPIDEMIC TIME, WHERE MANY

PEOPLE BECAME HOMELESS BECAUSE

OF A DRUG ADDICTION.

IT'S MUCH DIFFERENT NOW.

NOW WE HAVE THE WORKING POOR.

MANY OF OUR FAMILIES --

SINGLE-PARENT FAMILIES WITH

THE MOM WHO'S WORKING AT,

USUALLY, AN ENTRY-LEVEL JOB, NOT

MUCH MORE -- SOMETIMES, A BIT

BETTER -- AND TRYING TO RAISE A

FAMILY.

AND WITH THE RENTS SO SKY-HIGH

IN NASSAU, IT'S ALMOST

IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE PERSON TO

CONTINUE.

>> BUT HOW MANY PEOPLE LIVING

RIGHT ON THE EDGE, PAYCHECK TO

PAYCHECK.

YOU LOSE A JOB, YOU HAVE A

PHYSICAL AILMENT OR SOMETHING

LIKE THAT, AND YOU'RE DONE.

>> YEP.

>> SO HOW DO WE GET PEOPLE LIKE

MYSELF, WHO LIVE IN SOME OF THE

BETTER SUBURBS OF LONG ISLAND,

TO BE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH THE

HOMELESS?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, FOR MANY

YEARS, WE TOOK CARE OF THE

HOMELESS, AND BECAUSE WE GOT SO

MANY ABUSE CASES, WE KEPT THINGS

VERY QUIET TO PROTECT THOSE

FAMILIES.

THEN IT CAME TO A POINT WHERE

OUR BOARD FELT IT WAS IMPORTANT

TO EDUCATE THE LARGER COMMUNITY

ABOUT THE NEEDS, BECAUSE THEY

WERE GROWING AND GROWING.

SO WE'VE DONE A LOT OF OUTREACH

IN THAT AREA, AND WE'RE ANXIOUS

TO DO MORE.

AS THE LITTLE PRINCE SAYS, ONCE

YOU BECOME AWARE, YOU BECOME

RESPONSIBLE.

AND PEOPLE, ONCE THEY KNOW

WHAT'S HAPPENING, THEY REALLY

ARE EXTREMELY GENEROUS.

THE AMERICAN PUBLIC IS KNOWN FOR

IT.

AND HERE ON LONG ISLAND, PEOPLE

WHO HAVE A LITTLE MORE ARE

ALWAYS WILLING TO SHARE.

>> WHAT ABOUT THE COUNTY

GOVERNMENT?

IS NASSAU COUNTY DOING ENOUGH?

CAN THEY DO MORE?

SHOULD THEY DO MORE?

>> WELL, YEAH, I THINK THEY

COULD DO MORE.

I THINK THERE ARE MORE PROGRAMS

COULD BE PUT IN PLACE, THAT

THERE COULD BE MORE SUPPORT FOR

THE LOCAL SHELTER TO HAVE MORE

PROFESSIONALS ON COUNTY PAYROLL

WHO WOULD COME IN AND HELP US.

WE'RE FORTUNATE WE HAVE A

WONDERFUL CASE MANAGER -- A

SOCIAL WORKER WHO WORKED IN THE

COUNTY.

SO SHE'S BROUGHT ALL HER

EXPERIENCE WITH HER.

WE COULD USE MORE HELP IN

EDUCATION, WE COULD USE MORE

HELP IN JOB PLACEMENT, AND

LIAISONS FROM THE COUNTY

DIRECTLY TO THE SHELTER TO HELP

THE FAMILY REALLY FEEL, "OKAY,

WE'RE HERE.

WE'RE GONNA USE THIS TIME TO

REALLY GET BACK ON OUR FEET,

AND EVERYONE'S TRYING TO HELP US

DO IT."

>> SO I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW, IF

COUNTY GOVERNMENT, WHICH ENDS UP

PAYING FOR ASSISTANCE COULD

SOMEHOW GET IT IN THEIR FRAME OF

MIND THAT BY HELPING THE

HOMELESS GET OUT INTO THE

COMMUNITY AGAIN, BEING

PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY,

ACTUALLY IS GONNA SAVE THE

TAXPAYER MONEY, AND ISN'T THAT

WHAT THE COUNTY WANTS?

>> ABSOLUTELY. YES.

BUT, JUST THAT YOU UNDERSTAND,

THE MAJORITY, THE VAST MAJORITY,

OF THE MONEY THAT PROVIDES FOR

EMERGENCY SERVICE FOR THE

HOMELESS COMES DIRECTLY THROUGH

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

>> I SEE.

>> AND IT COMES TO THE STATE AND

DOWN TO THE COUNTY.

SO NASSAU COUNTY DOES NOT HAVE A

VERY BIG BILL FOR THE HOMELESS.

THAT'S EVEN ANOTHER REASON WHY

THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO PROVIDE

MORE SERVICES.

>> OKAY.

WELL, THANK YOU, SISTER AIMEE,

FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY.

YOU'RE A REAL LEGEND WITH

HELPING THE HOMELESS HERE ON

LONG ISLAND.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE

OPPORTUNITY TO DO SO.

THANK YOU.

>> UP NEXT, WE'RE GOING TO TAKE

A DEEPER DIVE INTO THE ISSUE OF

HOMELESSNESS RIGHT HERE ON

LONG ISLAND.

AND JOINING ME NOW TO CONTINUE

OUR DISCUSSION ABOUT

HOMELESSNESS ON LONG ISLAND IS

GRETA GUARTON, EXECUTIVE

DIRECTOR OF THE LONG ISLAND

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS, AND

VINCENT HOM, DIRECTOR OF

COMMUNITY PLANNING AND

DEVELOPMENT AT THE U.S.

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN

DEVELOPMENT.

GRETA AND VINCENT, THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY.

I APPRECIATE IT.

GRETA, LET ME START WITH YOU.

HOW SERIOUS IS THE HOMELESS

PROBLEM ON LONG ISLAND?

I MEAN, WE SEE IT IN THE PAPERS

IN NEW YORK EVERY DAY, AND IT'S

MUCH MORE VISIBLE, BUT WE HAVE A

BIG PROBLEM ON LONG ISLAND.

>> WE DO, JIM.

WE DO A HOMELESS COUNT EVERY

JANUARY.

IN JANUARY OF 2015, THE NUMBER

WAS CLOSE TO 3,900 INDIVIDUALS

ON ONE GIVEN NIGHT.

THAT'S FOLKS ON THE STREET,

EMERGENCY SHELTERS, TRANSITIONAL

HOUSING FOR HOMELESS PERSONS.

THAT WAS UP ABOUT 17%, I THINK

IT WAS, FROM 2014.

>> AND A LOT OF THESE ARE KIDS.

>> AT LEAST 50% ARE CHILDREN.

ABOUT 70% ARE MEMBERS OF

FAMILIES.

I THINK VERY OFTEN WE THINK OF A

HOMELESS PERSON AS AN OLDER MAN

PUSHING A CART DOWN THE STREET.

IN NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES,

THE UNSHELTERED HOMELESS ARE A

VERY SMALL PORTION -- CLOSE TO

3,800 ARE ACTUALLY LIVING IN

EMERGENCY SHELTERS, WHICH IS WHY

WE DON'T SEE THEM.

>> VINCENT, WHAT CAN WE DO TO

HELP FACILITATE GETTING THESE

PEOPLE OFF THE STREET, GETTING

THEM BACK IN SHAPE SO THAT THEY

CAN BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF

SOCIETY AGAIN?

WHAT IS HUD DOING ON THAT LEVEL?

>> SO, WE PROVIDE FUNDING TO

LOCAL GOVERNMENTS AND

NOT-FOR-PROFITS TO DO A WIDE

VARIETY OF THINGS, INCLUDING

SOCIAL SERVICES LIKE JOB

TRAINING OR HOUSING COUNSELING,

FINANCIAL COUNSELING, ALSO

HOMELESSNESS PREVENTION

ACTIVITIES, WHICH WOULD GIVE

FAMILIES IN DISTRESS THAT

IMMEDIATE PUSH TO PREVENT THEM

FROM BEING REMOVED FROM THEIR

HOMES, SO THERE ARE A VARIETY OF

DIFFERENT SUPPORT SERVICES THAT

WOULD HELP.

THE OTHER THING THAT WE THINK

MIGHT HELP IS SOME EFFORTS TO

INCREASE THE SUPPLY OF

AFFORDABLE RENTAL HOUSING.

>> MM-HMM.

>> BECAUSE CERTAINLY

HOMEOWNERSHIP IS NOT FOR EVERY

SITUATION.

>> AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON

LONG ISLAND -- THAT'S ALMOST AN

OXYMORON, ISN'T IT?

I MEAN, THE COST OF LIVING

HERE -- I JUST SAW A REPORT.

IT'S THE SECOND-HIGHEST IN THE

COUNTRY AFTER WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> MM-HMM.

>> A FAMILY OF FOUR NEEDS

$103,000 A YEAR TO PROVIDE A

GOOD LIFE FOR THEIR FAMILY.

SO WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT

AFFORDABLE HOUSING, IS THAT EVEN

A POSSIBILITY?

>> IT'S A CHALLENGE IN LARGE

SCALE.

ACTUALLY THROUGH HUD,

THE COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

COORDINATES SOMETHING CALLED A

CONTINUUM OF CARE.

THAT BRINGS ABOUT $12 MILLION

INTO NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTIES

FOR PERMANENT, AFFORDABLE

HOUSING FOR HOMELESS INDIVIDUALS

AND FAMILIES.

MOST OF THAT IS FOR DISABLED

HOUSEHOLDS.

NOW THERE'S ALSO A COMPONENT

CALLED RAPID RE-HOUSING,

WHICH ACTUALLY DOES HELP

NON-DISABLED FAMILIES TRANSITION

WHILE -- AND IT PROVIDES

SUBSIDIES TO HELP THEM

TRANSITION FROM HOMELESS INTO

PERMANENT HOUSING WHILE THEY'RE

DOING THINGS LIKE INCREASING

THEIR CAPACITY TO REALLY AFFORD

A HIGHER RENTAL.

>> NOW, MY UNDERSTANDING,

VINCENT, IS THAT THE FEDERAL

POVERTY LEVEL, THAT LINE THAT

EXISTS, IS SOMEWHERE AROUND

$24,000 ACROSS THE COUNTRY, BUT

ON LONG ISLAND, IT'S ACTUALLY --

THE POVERTY LEVEL IS $46,000.

SO, SO MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A

DILEMMA BECAUSE THEY CAN WORK

BUT THEY CAN'T MAKE ENOUGH MONEY

TO SUPPORT THEIR FAMILY, AND SO

THAT THEY NEED ASSISTANCE OF

SOME SORT.

THIS IMPACTS OUR ECONOMY,

CORRECT?

>> DEFINITELY.

THE ABSENCE OR SCARCITY OF

AFFORDABLE HOUSING CAUSES

DISTRESS AMONGST PERSONS WHO ARE

CLOSE TO THAT POVERTY LINE.

WE PROVIDE MANY DIFFERENT KINDS

OF SUBSIDY ALREADY, INCLUDING

HOUSING-CHOICE VOUCHERS.

THERE ARE SOME SUBSIDIES THAT

OUR OFFICE PROVIDES IN THE WAY

OF CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

THERE ARE OTHER SUBSIDIES THAT

THE STATE OF NEW YORK SUPPORTS

THROUGH THEIR HOUSING FINANCE

AGENCY, AS WELL AS THROUGH

ALLOCATING LOW-INCOME HOUSING

CREDITS TO ENCOURAGE THE

DEVELOPMENT OF HOUSING THAT'S

MORE AFFORDABLE TO MORE PEOPLE.

>> NOW, I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE

ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND 27 HOMELESS

SHELTERS IN NASSAU COUNTY.

AND OUR COUNTY COMPTROLLER,

GEORGE MARAGOS, CAME OUT THE

OTHER DAY WITH A REPORT THAT

SAID THAT ONLY ONE OF THESE

SHELTERS HAD BEEN INSPECTED.

SHOULD THAT BE THE CASE?

I MEAN, SHOULDN'T THEY BE

INSPECTED REGULARLY TO MAKE SURE

THAT THEY MEET CERTAIN

STANDARDS?

>> YES, THAT IS CORRECT.

WHEN WE HAVE OUR PARTNERS INVEST

FUNDS IN FACILITIES, THERE'S AN

EXPECTATION THAT THEY CONDUCT

INSPECTIONS TO ENSURE THAT THE

FACILITY IS DECENT, SAFE, AND

SANITARY, AND THAT IT COMPLIES

WITH LOCAL CODES AND STATE CODES

FOR OPERATING SUCH FACILITIES.

>> I SEE.

>> SO, TO THE EXTENT -- BUT THAT

RESPONSIBILITY IS BORNE BY THE

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND THEIR

OPERATING AGENCIES.

WE DON'T HAVE A DIRECT HAND IN

ENFORCING THAT, ALTHOUGH WE DO

THROUGH OUR FUNDING, IF THAT'S

OUR INVOLVEMENT.

SO WE DO EXPECT OUR LOCAL

PARTNERS TO MEET THEIR

OBLIGATIONS.

>> WHAT DO YOU THINK, GRETA,

ABOUT THE ISSUE OF -- THE FACT

THAT THE HOMELESS ARE KIND OF

INVISIBLE AND YOU KIND OF DRIVE

PAST THEM?

THEY'RE HOUSED IN LOCATIONS

WHERE YOU REALLY DON'T SEE THEM.

HOW DO WE BECOME MORE CONSCIOUS

OF THE ISSUE, OF THE PROBLEM?

AND FUNDING IS OBVIOUSLY,

ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL TO BUILDING

NEW SHELTERS.

>> OF COURSE.

>> OR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

ARE WE SEEING ENOUGH COMING OUT

OF WASHINGTON, OUT OF ALBANY,

OUT OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENTS TO

HELP THESE PEOPLE?

>> TO SPEAK TO YOUR FIRST POINT,

ESPECIALLY IN SUBURBAN AREAS,

YOU DON'T SEE A LOT OF HOMELESS.

YOU DO SEE THAT ONE OR TWO,

YOU KNOW, INDIVIDUALS.

SO RECOGNIZING THAT THERE IS AN

ISSUE IS SOMETHING THAT WE

REALLY TRY TO PUSH.

WE REALLY TRY TO GET THE WORD

OUT AND CREATE AWARENESS IN OUR

COMMUNITIES.

AND ESPECIALLY THE FACT THAT

THERE ARE SO MANY FAMILIES AND

SO MANY CHILDREN.

I DON'T THINK THAT ANY PERSON

SHOULD BE HOMELESS AT ALL, BUT

THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS THAT

KIND OF HAVE AN IDEA OF MAYBE

PEOPLE DID IT TO THEMSELVES.

AND REALLY GETTING OVER THAT

STIGMA AND REALLY TRYING TO

ELIMINATE THAT IS A BIG PIECE IN

RAISING AWARENESS AND

ENGENDERING SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS

LIKE AFFORDABLE-HOUSING

PROGRAMS, SUPPORTED-HOUSING

PROGRAMS.

OUT OF WASHINGTON,

UNFORTUNATELY, THE HUD BUDGET

TENDS TO STAY STAGNANT OR NOT --

FOR YEARS, IT WAS KIND OF GOING

DOWN IN SOME AREAS.

AND THERE ARE A LOT OF ADVOCATES

THAT ARE TRYING TO INCREASE

THAT.

IT'S -- THE PROGRAMS THAT WE

OPERATE THROUGH HUD FUNDING

HAVE BEEN VERY, VERY SUCCESSFUL,

AND WE'RE HOPING TO BE ABLE TO

CONTINUE THAT ON A STATE

LEVEL -- AS I MENTIONED, THE

35,000 UNITS OF AFFORDABLE

HOUSING WE'D LIKE TO SEE.

AND ON A LOCAL LEVEL, IF WE ARE

ABLE TO WORK WITH THE

DEPARTMENTS OF SOCIAL SERVICES

TO REALLY KIND OF REDESIGN SOME

OF THOSE PROGRAMS, THAT COULD

MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ONE MORE THING.

IN SUFFOLK COUNTY, THERE WAS

RECENTLY AN ACT CALLED THE

HOUSING OUR HOMELESS HEROES ACT.

ONE OF THE FOUR BILLS INCLUDED

IN THAT ALLOWED THE COUNTY TO

TAKE FORECLOSED HOMES, TRANSFER

THEM OVER TO NONPROFIT

ORGANIZATIONS TO HAVE THEM

REHABBED AND THEN TURNED OVER TO

VETERANS AS PERMANENT,

AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR HOMELESS

VETERANS.

>> VINCENT, WHAT ABOUT ZOMBIE

HOMES?

THEY'RE ALL OVER LONG ISLAND.

AND THIS STRETCHES BACK TO THE

RECESSION OF 2007, 2008.

THEY'RE STILL SITTING DORMANT.

>> MM-HMM.

>> I MEAN, AND NEW YORK STATE,

I UNDERSTAND, IS ONE OF THE FEW

STATES THAT JUST CAN'T CLOSE THE

DOOR ON THESE ZOMBIE HOMES AND

TURN THEM OVER AND LET THEM

BECOME, YOU KNOW, PRODUCTIVE

HOUSING SHELTER AGAIN.

>> RIGHT.

SO, YES, THAT SEEMS TO BE A BIG

PROBLEM, WHERE THERE ARE

ABANDONED HOMES.

WE HAD A PROGRAM A COUPLE OF

YEARS AGO, THE NEIGHBORHOOD

STABILIZATION PROGRAM, INTENDED

TO ADDRESS THE WAVE OF

FORECLOSURES BEGINNING IN 2008.

AND THAT PROGRAM WAS

TIME-LIMITED, SO THERE WERE

THREE ROUNDS OF FUNDING AND THE

LOCAL COMMUNITIES, INCLUDING

NASSAU AND SUFFOLK COUNTY, AS

WELL AS THE TOWN OF ISLIP AND

BABYLON, RECEIVED FUNDING FROM

US TO ADDRESS FORECLOSURES IN

THEIR NEIGHBORHOODS, AND THEY

DID THE WORK THAT THEY DID, AND

SOME OF THOSE HOMES HAVE BEEN

RETURNED TO PRODUCTIVE USE.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THE GOAL OF THAT PROGRAM WAS

TO GET THEM BACK, OCCUPIED, AND

CONTRIBUTING TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO WE TALK ABOUT AFFORDABLE

HOUSING HERE, BUT THE INCOME

LIMIT TO PARTICIPATE THERE WAS A

LITTLE BIT HIGHER TO BRING IN

THE MODERATE AND MIDDLE INCOME.

>> YOU KNOW, ONE THING I'D LIKE

TO KIND OF CLOSE THE PROGRAM

ABOUT, AND THAT IS -- IS THERE A

WAY FOR US TO QUANTIFY THE

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF HOMELESSNESS

ON THE GENERAL POPULATION AND

ECONOMIC WELL-BEING OF

LONG ISLAND?

IS THERE -- ARE THERE ANY

NUMBERS?

IS THERE ANY ANALOGY?

IS THERE ANYTHING THAT YOU CAN

KIND OF, YOU KNOW, STITCH THIS

THING TOGETHER WITH?

>> I WOULD JUST LOOK AT THE

AMOUNT THAT WE ALREADY INVEST IN

TRYING TO ADDRESS THE PROBLEM.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WE GIVE $12 MILL-- WE, AS ONE

AGENCY, OR ONE UNIT OF AN

AGENCY, GIVE $12 MILLION UNDER

THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PROGRAM.

THERE ARE ALSO FUNDS --

>> THOSE ARE FEDERAL DOLLARS,

THOUGH.

>> RIGHT, FEDERAL DOLLARS FROM

HUD.

>> MM-HMM.

>> WE ALSO PROVIDE EMERGENCY

SOLUTIONS GRANT MONEY, WHICH IS

A SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT FLAVOR OF

FEDERAL MONEY, AS WELL AS

HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES FOR

PERSONS WITH AIDS MONEY, WHICH

DEVELOPS HOUSING FOR PERSONS

WITH HIV AND AIDS.

MANY OF THEM ARE ALSO

EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO IF YOU WERE TO LOOK AT THE

FUNDING THAT'S ALREADY

COMMITTED, THAT'S ONE POSSIBLE

WAY TO LOOK AT THE ISSUE.

>> RIGHT.

>> THE RESOURCES THAT ARE

ALREADY DEVOTED TO MAINTAINING

THE LEVEL OF HOMELESSNESS THAT

EXISTS CURRENTLY.

>> AND WHEN WE TALKED EARLIER --

GO AHEAD.

>> SORRY.

THERE'S A STATISTIC OUT THERE.

STUDIES HAVE BEEN DONE THAT SHOW

THAT HOUSING A PERSON IN

SUPPORTED HOUSING CAN COST

SOMEWHERE AROUND $15,000.

>> MM-HMM.

>> THE AMOUNT OF RESOURCES THAT

PERSON USES -- SOMEWHERE AROUND

$15,000.

>> $15,000 A YEAR?

>> A YEAR.

>> OKAY.

>> FOR A PERSON WHO IS LIVING IN

STABLE HOUSING.

>> UH-HUH.

>> VERSUS, AND THAT'S --

THE STATISTICS CHANGE.

IT CAN BE UP TO $60,000 TO

$80,000 FOR A PERSON LIVING ON

THE STREET.

THERE'S NO HOUSING, YOU KNOW,

PERMANENT HOUSING COSTS, BUT

THERE'S EMERGENCY HOUSING COSTS,

THERE'S POLICE COSTS,

EMERGENCY-ROOM COSTS.

SO IT'S ACTUALLY FINANCIALLY

MUCH CHEAPER TO PROVIDE

PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR

AN INDIVIDUAL WHO'S HOMELESS

THAN KEEP SOMEBODY CHRONICALLY

HOMELESS ON THE STREET.

>> BUT IF YOU CREATE PERMANENT

HOUSING FOR SOMEONE, WHY WOULD

THEY EVER WANT TO MOVE ON IF

THIS IS BEING PAID FOR BY

SOMEONE ELSE?

AND THAT'S WHERE YOU KIND OF GET

INTO THIS CONFLICT WITH PEOPLE

WHO SAY, "OH, WHY SHOULD WE

SUPPORT THESE PEOPLE?"

>> BECAUSE ASIDE FROM THE HUMAN

FACTOR, $15,000 A YEAR IS A LOT

LESS THAN $60,000 TO $80,000 A

YEAR.

KEEP IN MIND -- THIS IS A YEAR.

>> MM-HMM.

>> SO EVEN IF PEOPLE DON'T CARE

ABOUT THE HOMELESS, AND I THINK

THAT THEY SHOULD...

>> YES.

>> ...ECONOMICALLY, IT JUST

MAKES A LOT MORE FINANCIAL SENSE

TO PROVIDE PERMANENT HOUSING FOR

INDIVIDUALS.

>> AND IS THERE A WAY TO MOVE

THESE PEOPLE BACK INTO THE

WORKFORCE SO THAT THEY BECOME

PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF SOCIETY,

ARE PAYING TAXES, AND CAN,

YOU KNOW, GET OFF THE SUBSIDIES?

>> IN MANY CASES, THERE ARE.

IF YOU ARE LIVING ON THE STREET,

YOUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS GOING TO

BE SURVIVING THAT NIGHT, AND

WHATEVER YOU HAVE TO DO TO

SURVIVE THAT NIGHT, THAT'S WHAT

YOU'RE GONNA DO.

>> YEAH.

>> YOU'RE NOT GONNA WORRY ABOUT

GETTING BACK INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> RIGHT.

>> YOU'RE NOT GONNA GET A JOB...

>> RIGHT.

>> ...IN THAT SITUATION ANYWAY.

ONCE FOLKS ARE IN STABLE

HOUSING, THEY CAN START WORKING

ON MENTAL-ILLNESS ISSUES IF THEY

HAVE THEM, ADDICTIONS IF THEY

HAVE THEM, CLEANING THEMSELVES

UP, AND GOING OUT AND GETTING

EMPLOYMENT.

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, I JUST -- I CAN'T

IMAGINE BEING IN THAT

CIRCUMSTANCE, AND I KNOW THAT SO

MANY PEOPLE ARE RIGHT ON THE

EDGE, RIGHT?

YOU LOSE YOUR JOB OR IF YOU HAVE

TWO BREADWINNERS IN THE FAMILY

AND ONE PERSON LOSES A JOB,

YOU FALL INTO POVERTY.

>> THAT'S DEVASTATION FOR A LOT

OF PEOPLE ON LONG ISLAND.

>> AND FOR THE CHILDREN, IT'S

JUST GOT TO BE SO TRAUMATIZING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> RIGHT.

THEY ARE DISPLACED FROM THEIR

SCHOOL SITUATION.

IF THEY ARE PLACED IN SHELTER,

THEN THERE'S ATTEMPTS THAT ARE

MADE TO KEEP THEM IN THE SCHOOL,

BUT THEIR SHELTER LOCATION MAY

NOT BE CLOSE ENOUGH.

AND IF THEY'RE EXPERIENCING

FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, THEY MAY

NOT HAVE TRANSPORT.

SO THERE'S A LOT OF COSTS.

>> WELL, LET US HOPE THAT WE CAN

FIND A RESOLUTION SOMEHOW TO THE

HOMELESS PROBLEM SO THAT IT

DOESN'T GET ANY WORSE.

GRETA AND VINCENT, THANK YOU SO

MUCH FOR BEING WITH US.

AND THAT WRAPS UP OUR

CONVERSATION ABOUT HOMELESSNESS

ON LONG ISLAND.

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE

"CHASING THE DREAM" INITIATIVE,

PLEASE VISIT

chasingthedreamproject.org.

AND FOR MORE ON THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT,"

LOG ON TO OUR WEBSITE.

YOU CAN ALSO FIND US ON

FACEBOOK, AND JOIN THE

CONVERSATION ON TWITTER.

I'M JIM PAYMAR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR

THIS EDITION OF THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT,"

AND WE'LL SEE YOU NEXT TIME.

>> FUNDING FOR THE

"LONG ISLAND BUSINESS REPORT"

HAS BEEN PROVIDED BY...

THE RAUCH FOUNDATION...

AND BY THE JPB FOUNDATION...

AND THE FORD FOUNDATION.

♪♪