>>> TONIGHT ON "METROFOCUS" --
HOMELESSNESS HERE AT HOME.
IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUES OF OUR TIME.
NEW YORK CITY MEN, WOMEN, AND
CHILDREN FORCED OUT OF THEIR
HOMES.
BUT YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHERE
THE CITY IS POLICING THEM.
VICTIMS OF A WAYWARD ECONOMY.
CASUALTIES, WIDESPREAD
GENTRIFICATION.
THE STAKES NEVER SO HIGH FOR THE
CITY'S POOR.
THE STATISTICS OF PEOPLE LIVING
ON THE STREETS IS FRIGHTENING.
1 IN 9 KIDS HAVE NO PLACE TO
CALL HOME, AND 1 IN 10 ARE
HOMELESS WAR VETERANS TRYING TO
SURVIVE.
PERHAPS THE MOST STARTLING
DISCOVERY OF ALL, 1 IN 5 ON THE
STREETS HAS A FULL-TIME JOB.
TONIGHT, THE HOMELESS, NO LONGER
INVISIBLE OR FORGOTTEN.
BUT SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITY
AND CHASING THEIR DREAMS.
ALL THAT AND MORE AS
"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.
♪ ♪
>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS," WITH
RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND
JENNA FLANAGAN, FUNDING WAS
PROVIDED BY --
FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION.
>>> NOW FOR A REVEALING REPORT.
NEW YORK'S WPIX ONE YEAR IN THE
MAKING.
WE BEGAN REPORTING ON THE
HOMELESS CHRIS ES MORE THAN ONE
YEAR AGO BEFORE IT HIT THE
HEADLINES.
TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR
INITIATIVE, CHASING THE DREAM,
POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN
AMERICA, THEY'LL REVEAL THE NEW
REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS ACROSS
OUR REGION AND TAKE US INSIDE
SOME NEW SHELTERS WHERE YOU
ACTUALLY MAY HAVE STAYED
YOURSELF.
CONFUSED?
SO WERE WE.
TAKE A LOOK.
>> NOTHING CHANGED.
ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CHANGED.
I FEEL NO CHANGE.
IT'S THE SAME THING ALL OVER
AGAIN.
THERE'S NO HELP.
>> Reporter: ROBERT, A HOMELESS
FATHER, SAYS HE DOES NOT MIND
HAVING HIS IDENTITY REVEALED.
IT IS A SENTIMENT WE HEARD
REPEATEDLY FROM SEVERAL HOMELESS
FAMILIES, COMING AT A TIME WHEN
NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL De
BLASIO AND HIS ADMINISTRATION
WANT THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THEY
ARE TURNING A NEW PAGE IN THE
HOMELESS CRISIS.
>> I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS --
WHAT MOVEMENT THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT.
>> Reporter: HOMELESS FAMILIES
DID NOT MINCE WORDS WHEN ASKED
HOW THE CITY, UNDER A NEW
HOMELESS SERVICES REGIME, IS NOW
HANDLING THEIR CASES.
>> LIKE [ BLEEP ].
>> Reporter: MANY TELL US THEY
ARE EMOTIONALLY BEATEN DOWN.
THEIR PROBLEMS FALLING ON DEAF
EARS.
[ INDISCERNIBLE ]
>> IT IS A BRUTAL MURDER
SHOCKING THE ENTIRE CITY.
>> Reporter: FOR MONTHS, WE HAVE
BEEN INVESTIGATING SECURITY AT
THE CITY'S DESIGNATED HOMELESS
HOTELS, WHERE FAMILIES ARE
HOUSED ALONG WITH REGULAR PAYING
GUESTS.
AND OFTEN SUBJECTED TO A GLARING
LACK OF SECURITY.
>> THIS IS AN ATROCIOUS CRIME.
>> Reporter: THAT WAS NEW YORK
CITY MAYOR BILL De BLASIO ON
FEBRUARY 10th, HOURS AFTER A
HOMELESS MOTHER AND HER TWO
CHILDREN, JUST 1 AND 2 YEARS
OLD, WERE STABBED TO DEATH AT
THE RAMADA ON STATEN ISLAND.
THE CITY ADMITTED THERE WAS NO
SECURITY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF
THEIR DEATHS.
IN RESPONSE, THE MAYOR PROMISED
HOTELS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO
INCREASED SECURITY.
>> THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE
IMMEDIATELY, AT NO CHARGE TO THE
HOTEL.
>> Reporter: THE MAYOR ALSO
ADDED HE WOULD BEGIN TO WEAN THE
CITY OFF ITS DEPENDENCY ON
HOMELESS HOTELS.
>> STOP USING HOTELS, THAT IS
THE GOAL.
THERE WILL BE A MOMENT WHEN
THERE IS A NEED WE TURN TO
HOTELS.
BUT THE GOAL IS TO STOP USING
HOTELS ALL TOGETHER.
>> Reporter: SIX WEEKS LATER, WE
DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FOR
OURSELVES, AT THE END OF THE
CITY'S SELF-IMPOSED 90 DAY
REVIEW PERIOD.
OUR REPORTING TOOK US TO THIS
DAYS INN IN THE BRONX, DURING
THE SAME WEEK IN APRIL WHEN THE
NYPD REPORTED TWO MORE HOMICIDES
INSIDE THE CITY'S SHELTER
SYSTEM.
WATCH AS A PHOTOGRAPHER STROLLS
RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS,
PAST THE FRONT DESK WORKER
SITTING BEHIND BULLET PROOF
GLASS.
AND INTO THE ELEVATOR.
THERE WAS NO SECURITY IN SIGHT.
A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS
LATER, HE WAS ON THE SAME FLOOR
WHERE THE CITY HOUSED HOMELESS
FAMILIES.
SUDDENLY, A WOMAN AND CHILD
EMERGED FROM A ROOM IN FRONT OF
THEM.
IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT IF OUR
PHOTOGRAPHER WAS THERE TO DO
HOME.
A NOTICE ON BULLET PROOF GLASS
STATES THE BUSINESS IS CASH
ONLY.
INTERNAL CITY RECORDS OBTAINED
SHOWS THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE
CITY'S HOMELESS HOTELS, WHICH
EARNS SIGNIFICANT REVENUE BY
BILLING THE De BLASIO
ADMINISTRATION TO HOUSE THE
HOMELESS.
ROOMS CAN BE RENTED OVERNIGHT OR
FOR AS LITTLE AS FOUR HOURS.
WE CHECKED IN, WITHOUT A
RESERVATION, AND WALKED UP TO
OUR ROOM, DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM A
YOUNG HOMELESS MOTHER WHO SAYS
SHE'S BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS AND
COUNTING.
THERE WAS NOT ONE SECURITY GUARD
ON OUR FLOOR.
>> THERE'S CHILDREN AND STUFF ON
THIS FLOOR.
AND YOU GUYS RENTED A ROOM
ACROSS THE HALLWAY FROM A SMALL
CHILD.
YOU COULD BE ANYBODY.
YOU COULD BE A PEDOPHILE,
ANYTHING.
>> Reporter: FOR THE HOMELESS
FAMILIES LIVING HERE, STRUGGLING
TO FIND STABILITY, THIS IS NOT
THEIR NIGHT.
NO KITCHEN, TATTERED RUGS.
ALONG WITH COMPANY CLIMBING THE
CURTAINS.
OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, A LAW
ENFORCEMENT TELLS US THE NYPD
HAS RESPONDED TO SEVERAL
DISTURBING CRIMES HERE.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ASSAULTS,
INDECENT EXPOSURE TO NAME A FEW.
DO YOU FEEL SAFE HERE?
>> NO.
BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT
ANY TIME.
>> Reporter: THE SAME SOURCE
DESCRIBES THIS HOTEL AS OUT OF
CONTROL.
>> YOU CAN'T RECORD IN HERE.
>> Reporter: IF THIS LOOKS
FAMILIAR, IT IS BECAUSE LAST
FALL, WE EXPOSED FORMER
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES
COMMISSIONER GILBERT TAYLOR FOR
NOT HAVING A TRUE UNDERSTANDING
OF THE HOMELESS CRISIS.
EVEN WHEN WENTING HIM WITH HIS
OWN FACTS.
>> OUR DATA WOULD BE FAMILIES
LANGUISHING IN SHELTERS, BECAUSE
THAT IS NOT THE CASE.
>> Reporter: I HAVE THIS REPORT,
COMMISSIONER, RIGHT HERE.
I'M LOOKING AT A REPORT THAT
STATES WITH YOUR NAME ATTACHED
TO THE TOP OF IT.
NOT ONLY WERE FAMILIES
LANGUISHING IN SHELTER, BUT OUR
INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CITY
RELIED MORE THAN EVER ON HOTELS
TO WAREHOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES,
IN ROOMS THAT IN SOME CASES WERE
RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO REGULAR
PAYING GUESTS.
RECORDS OBTAINED CLEARLY SHOW
THE CITY SPENT AT LEAST $3.5
MILLION ON HOTEL ROOMS DURING
THE FINAL FOUR MONTHS OF LAST
YEAR.
ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY ROUTINELY
OVERPAID FOR HOTEL ROOMS, AS WE
WERE ABLE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS
ONLINE FOR MUCH LESS ON THE
HOTEL'S CORPORATE SITE.
THIS CAUGHT THE EYE OF
COMPTROLLER SCOTT STRINGER.
STHZ IS A QUESTIONABLE PATTERN
VERY DISTURBING.
>> Reporter: COMMISSIONER
TAYLOR, APPOINTED BY MAYOR De
BLASIO, ABRUPTLY RESIGNED.
>> HE MADE A CHOICE.
I RESPECT AND SUPPORT HIS
CHOICE.
>> Reporter: THE MAYOR ALSO
ANNOUNCED THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL
OF VHS AND TASKED HUMAN
RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION
COMMISSIONER STEVEN BANKS TO RUN
TWO AGENCIES.
BANKS' FIRST GOAL, TO SPEND THE
NEXT 90 DAYS IMPROVING
CONDITIONS FOR HOMELESS
FAMILIES.
AND IN LIGHT OF THE MURDERS AT
THE RAMADA ON STATEN ISLAND IN
FEBRUARY, SAFETY BECAME A MAJOR
INITIATIVE.
HOWEVER, OUR UNDERCOVER VIDEO
CAPTURED AT SEVERAL HOTELS,
INCLUDING THE PARK HOTEL IN
FLUSHING QUEENS, SHOWS OUR
PHOTOGRAPHER WALKING RIGHT
THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS.
AS YOU CAN SEE ONCE AGAIN, THERE
WAS NO ONE THERE TO STOP US.
AND IN LESS THAN 45 SECONDS, HE
WAS ON THE FLOORS WHERE HOMELESS
PEOPLE WERE PLACED.
DURING OUR VISIT TO A FOURTH
HOMELESS HOTEL, THIS QUALITY INN
IN BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN, WIFE
AND MOTHER TERESA ROBINSON SAYS
THIS IS A LIFE SHE IS
DESPERATELY TRYING TO ESCAPE.
>> I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND,
AND IT STRESSES ME OUT BECAUSE I
FEEL LIKE I'M STAGNATED HERE.
>> Reporter: BUT AS WE LEARNED,
THE VAST MAJORITY OF ROOMS ARE
USED TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS.
AND WHILE THERE IS A SECURITY
SYSTEM IN PLACE TO PREVENT
HOMELESS FAMILIES FROM ACCESSING
WARM COFFEE AND BREAKFAST,
AVAILABLE TO REGULAR PAYING
GUESTS --
>> IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THERE
WAS LIKE FIVE WEEKS.
>> Reporter: WHAT THEY SAY THEY
HAVE BEEN SERVED UP WITH ARE
PLENTY OF VIOLENT NIGHTS.
IN FACT, THERE WAS NO SECURITY
PRESENT WHEN AN ARGUMENT BROKE
OUT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR.
HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMELL WEED OR
OTHER DRUGS?
>> EVERY DAY.
>> Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU
SMELLING?
>> EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING.
MARIJUANA, CIGARETTES, CRACK,
EVERYTHING.
>> Reporter: CRACK?
>> YEAH.
>> Reporter: YOU SMELL CRACK?
>> YEAH, WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE
THEIR ROOMS, YEAH.
YEAH, YOU CAN SMELL IT WHEN
THEY'RE BURNING.
>> Reporter: THAT'S A CORPORATE
HOTEL.
THAT'S A LOVELY PLACE TO STAY.
>> YEAH, LOOKS CAN BE VERY
DECEIVING.
>> Reporter: SO ARE THE De
BLASIO ADMINISTRATION'S HOMELESS
STATS.
MAYOR De BLASIO POINTED OUT HIS
ADMINISTRATION'S PREVENTATIVE
EFFORTS HAVE STABILIZE THE
HOMELESS POPULATION AT 57,900.
BUT HAS THE SITUATION REALLY
IMPROVED?
BACK ON NOVEMBER 10th OF LAST
YEAR, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE
PROMOTED THEIR SELF-PROCLAIMED
SUCCESS IN COMBATTING THE
CRISIS, STATING THE SHELTERS
CONSISTED OF 57,390 PEOPLE.
IN REALITY, IT HAS INCREASED.
FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOMELESS
TASK FORCE, THE NUMBERS DO NOT
ADD UP TO SUCCESS.
>> IT'S A REAL DISGRACE THAT YOU
CAN'T TRUST THE MAYOR OF NEW
YORK CITY THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO
ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM.
>> Reporter: WHY IS THE
ADMINISTRATION TOUTING IT THIS
WAY?
>> BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY
WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.
>> Reporter: THE CITY CONTINUES
TO OVERPAY, USING TAXPAYER
DOLLARS FOR HOTEL ROOMS.
FOR NEW YORK CITY'S CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE CONCERNS
HE EXPRESSED LAST FALL OVER A
LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND
FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT ARE
STILL WITH US.
HOW FRUSTRATING IS IT THAT VHS
AND HRA ARE STILL LEAVING YOU
AND YOUR OFFICE IN THE DARK IN
TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO
ACCURATELY ANALYZE HOW THOSE
AGENCIES ARE SPENDING THE MONEY
TO HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES?
>> WE ARE CONTINUING TO
INVESTIGATE AND AUDIT THE
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES.
WE WANT TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION
FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE
PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, BECAUSE
WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE
CITY IS SPENDING NOW THE $1.7
BILLION ON HOMELESS SERVICES IN
THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.
>> Reporter: EVEN ROBERT, THE
HOMELESS FATHER IN JAMAICA
QUEENS, SAYS TAXPAYERS ARE BEING
FLEECED.
>> IT'S RIDICULOUS.
A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT DOESN'T
COST HALF AS MUCH.
>> Reporter: WE EACH DISCOVERED
FAMILIES ARE ENDURING LONGER
HOTEL STAYS.
WHAT THE FORMER COMMISSIONER
GILBERT TAYLOR REFERRED TO LAST
NOVEMBER AS SHORT-TERM TEN-DAY
EMERGENCY STAYS HAS BALLOONED
INTO 30, 90, AND NOW EVEN
120-DAY RESIDENCIES.
WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST 90
DAYS?
>> NOTHING.
>> Reporter: THE CRISIS HAS
GOTTEN SO OUT OF HAND, THE CITY
IS RELYING ON NEW HOTELS TO FIND
SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES.
CITY RECORDS SHOW LAST FALL,
THIS SUPER 8 IN THE BRONX, THE
FIFTH HOMELESS HOTEL WE VISITED,
WAS DESIGNATED TO HOUSE STRICTLY
HOMELESS ADULTS.
BUT DURING OUR VISIT -- HOW MANY
HOMELESS FAMILIES, ARE YOU
TOTALLY BOOKED WITH THEM?
>> NO, NOT REALLY.
>> Reporter: THE FRONT DESK
CLERK TOLD US THEY ARE NOW
HOUSING HOMELESS FAMILIES.
AND REMEMBER, THE CITY'S
CONTINUING RELIANCE ON HOTELS TO
HOUSE THE HOMELESS IS A BLATANT
CONTRADICTION TO WHAT THE MAYOR
SAID AT THE MURDERS AT THE
RAMADA.
>> STOP USING HOTELS, THAT IS
THE GOAL.
>> Reporter: YOU MIGHT BE
WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL
ISSUES WITH THE De BLASIO'S
ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUED USE
OF THESE HOTELS AND LACK OF
SECURITY.
OUR INVESTIGATION FOUND A
FEDERAL LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW FOR
ALMOST TWO DECADES THAT BANS
SEXUAL PREDATORS FROM LIVING IN
PUBLIC HOUSING.
INSIDE NEW YORK PUBLIC HOUSING
FACILITIES, THAT BAN ON SEXUAL
PREDATORS IS, INDEED, IN PLACE.
JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE NEW
YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY
COORDINATES WITH THE NYPD TO
ENSURE A VISIBLE SECURITY
PRESENCE WITH POLICE OFFICERS
PATROLLING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE
HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.
THE BOTTOM LINE, THESE LIVING
SPACES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF
NEW YORK, OFFER PROTECTION FOR
THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.
THIS OVERALL LACK OF SECURITY
AND HOTELS THAT HOUSE HOMELESS
FAMILIES IS THE NEW NORM.
AND HIGHLIGHTS A DISCONNECT
BETWEEN WHAT MAYOR De BLASIO AND
HIS TEAM SAYS ABOUT THE SAFETY
OF THESE HOMELESS HOTELS AND
WHAT WE HAVE SHOWN YOU FOR
MONTHS.
THE RESULT, THIS CRISIS
CONTINUALLY FLIES UNDER THE
RADAR.
IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT SOME
IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA SHOULD
HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE MONTHS
SINCE THOSE MURDERS?
>> WELL, THERE IS 24-HOUR
SECURITY AT ALL SHELTERS.
>> Reporter: ALTHOUGH WE WERE
ABLE TO WALK INTO HOMELESS
HOTELS WITH NO SECURITY IN SIGHT
AND GET UP TO FLOORS WHERE
HOMELESS PARENTS AND CHILDREN
ARE CURRENTLY STAYING, HRA AND
HOMELESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER
STEVEN BANKS STILL INSISTS THESE
FACILITIES ARE SAFE.
KEEP IN MIND, THERE HAVE BEEN
MULTIPLE HOMICIDES INSIDE THE
CITY SHELTER SYSTEM DURING A
RECENTLY LAUNCHED NYPD
ASSESSMENT PERIOD.
>> THE CITY HAS ADDED NEW HOTELS
TO THE LIST OF FACILITIES THAT
HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES.
IN MANY CASES, THE SECURITY IS
NOT JUST INADEQUATE, BUT
NONEXISTENT.
SINCE WE'VE LAST SPOKEN, SEVERAL
MONTHS HAVE PASSED.
WHY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE ASKED THE
POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO A
THOROUGH REVIEW OF SECURITY OF
ALL OUR SHELTERS.
THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING
THAT AND WE'LL BE GUIDED BY WHAT
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS.
>> Reporter: THE POTENTIAL
DANGER WAITING FOR HOMELESS
FAMILIES IN HOTELS WAS NOT LOST
ON THE SENIOR U.S. SENATOR FROM
NEW YORK.
>> CHILDREN, AND I'M SURE
PREDATORS KNOW THIS IS A PLACE
TO GO.
>> Reporter: SENATOR SCHUMER
SITS ON THE COMMITTEE OF
BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN
AFFAIRS.
HE EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERNS OVER
THE WAY FAMILIES AND ADULTS ARE
BEING HOUSED INSIDE OF HOTELS,
ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THAT 1980
FEDERAL LAW WHICH HE SUPPORTED,
THAT BANNED SEXUAL PREDATORS
FROM PUBLIC HOUSING.
>> IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT
THERE IS NO SECURITY THERE AT
ALL.
IF THEY CAN WALK RIGHT IN, THE
DAMAGE THEY CAN DO IS ENORMOUS.
NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE
CITY'S EXPLANATION IS.
BUT THEY OUGHT TO CHANGE IT AND
FIX IT RIGHT AWAY.
THE HOTELS THEMSELVES ARE NOT
GOOD PLACES FOR THE HOMELESS.
>> Reporter: BACK AT THE MOTOR
INN IN QUEENS, ROBERT, WHO SAYS
HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOMELESS
HOTELS FOR 2 1/2 YEARS,
DESCRIBES THIS AS A LIFE ON THE
EDGE.
>> THESE HOTELS ARE SUPPOSED TO
BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE.
AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW IT'S
NOT.
>> JOINING ME NOW, MARIO DIAZ
AND JAY DOWD.
THAT WAS SOME POWERFUL STUFF,
GENTLEMEN.
HOW DID YOU EVEN BECOME AWARE OF
THE HOMELESS HOTELS AND THE WAY
THE CITY WAS USING THEM?
>> LAST AUTUMN, I BEGAN OUR ON
THE STREETS REPORTING ON THIS
TOPIC.
AFTER MONTHS OF DOING RESEARCH,
WE ENDED UP FOCUSING ON
EDUCATION AND FAMILIES.
WHEN WE SHOWED UP TO THE SCHOOL,
WE THEN WERE TIPPED OFF AS TO
THE REALITY OF THE HOMELESS
PROBLEM THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE
TRULY UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF THE
WAY THE CITY WAS HANDLING IT.
>> THERE WAS A PARENT
COORDINATOR TOLD US SHE WAS
DEALING WITH A FAMILY STAYING ON
STATEN ISLAND.
WE THEN FOUND THIS HOLIDAY INN
HOUSED WITH HOMELESS FAMILIES,
DOZENS OF THEM.
>> SO THE HOTEL WITH THE FAMILY
WAS IN STATEN ISLAND?
>> AND AS A RESULT, THE CHILD
WAS MISSING SCHOOL QUITE
FREQUENTLY.
THEY WERE LUCKY TO GET TO THE
SCHOOL TWO DAYS A WEEK.
THE REALITY IS, THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT GRIPS SO MANY
CHILDREN RIGHT NOW WHO ARE
BEING -- SEEING THEIR EDUCATION
PARALYZED IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN
A HOMELESS SITUATION AND YOU
MOVE FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER,
MEANS YOU'RE PROBABLY MOVING
FROM A DIFFERENT SCHOOL TO A
DIFFERENT SCHOOL.
YOU MOVE ONCE, IT SETS YOU BACK
SIX MONTHS, MOVE AGAIN AND IT'S
A YEAR.
YOU LOOK AT CHILDREN THAT ARE
BEING SET BACK EDUCATIONALLY
BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A SITUATION
THAT HAS NO RESOLVE BEEN THE
CITY, WHEN WE'RE SEEING RECORD
NUMBERS OUT THERE IN THE PAST
YEAR.
>> TELL ME HOW IS IT THAT THESE
FAMILIES COME TO LIVE IN THESE
HOTELS?
AGAIN, EMERGENCIES IS WHAT IT'S
SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE, BUT IT
LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE BEING SET
UP TO LIVE THERE.
HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?
>> THIS IS THE WAY OF LIFE FOR
HOMELESS FAMILIES.
THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO A HOTEL THE
CITY CHOOSES.
SO WORKER AT THE PATH CENTER IN
THE SOUTH BRONX WILL SAY THIS IS
WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PLACE YOU.
OFTEN THERE IS NO CONSIDERATION
FOR WHERE THE CHILD IS ENROLLED
IN SCHOOL.
SO IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN GOING
TO SCHOOL ON THE LOWER EAST
SIDE, IT'S THE PARENT'S
RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THAT CHILD
TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY.
WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE
OFTEN NO SOCIAL SERVICES AT
THESE HOTELS.
SO FAMILIES ARE JUST ESSENTIALLY
WAREHOUSED.
A AND THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR
TIME TRYING TO FIND A JOB AND
KEEP A JOB.
>> AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO HAVE
SOMEBODY STATIONED AT THESE
HOTELS TO PROVIDE THESE
SERVICES?
>> THEY DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE
AT SOME OF THE HOTELS WE REACHED
OUT TO.
THE SPECIFIC ONES, WE DID ASK,
DO YOU HAVE A DHS OFFICE, SO
THEY DID HAVE A PRESENCE.
WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE IS THIS
SECURITY COMPONENT THAT THE
MAYOR SAID THEY'RE GOING TO
ENHANCE SECURITY AS A RESULT OF
THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE
FEBRUARY 10th.
WHAT WAS SO STRIKING TO US IS
THAT WE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING
TO BE MAYBE ONE -- A HANDFUL OF
HOTELS.
BUT WHEN YOU START REALIZING
THIS IS AN ENTIRE SYNDICATE OF
HOTELS BEINGOUT RISED BY THE
CITY AT A COST OF $3 MILLION
THAT WAS SPENT JUST TO HOUSE
FAMILIES INSIDE OF HOTELS, WE
REALIZED THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER
SITUATION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS NO
IDEA IT'S GOING ON.
>> IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE -- IT
SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK
AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE STOP
GAP THAT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING THE
FINGER IN THE DAM OR SOMETHING
LIKE THAT FOR RIGHT NOW.
>> THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.
WE SHOULD NOT LOSE -- THESE ARE
TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND THE
FAMILIES ARE BEING WAREHOUSED
HERE, BECAUSE THERE ASK NO OTHER
SOLUTION.
THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS MORE
AFFORDABLE HOUSING.
FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, THEY'RE
MAKING JUST ENOUGH TO SURVIVE
BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT LEAP
INTO AN APARTMENT THAT THEY CAN
AFFORD.
>> SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I
THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY
THINK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IS IF
YOU JUST GET A JOB, IF YOU JUST
START WORKING, YOU CAN FIX THIS
YOURSELF.
HOW MANY FAMILIES DID YOU FIND
WORKING?
>> SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE CAME
ACROSS WERE AT FULL-TIME JOBS
AND FOUND THEMSELVES IN THIS
SITUATION.
THERE'S NO DOUBT BECAUSE WE LIVE
IN THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN, AND
THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS MORE
COMMON NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT
THAT YOU HAVE A HIGH COST.
YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN SAN
FRANCISCO AND OTHER PLACES.
THEY'RE ALL ADDRESSING
HOMELESSNESS DIFFERENTLY.
EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT THE
HOMELESS HOTELS.
THEY'RE SHOCKED BECAUSE YOU JUST
DON'T SEE IT.
AND YES, TO ANSWER YOUR ORIGINAL
PORTION OF THIS QUESTION, THERE
WERE MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE
WORKING OUT THERE, THAT WANT TO
GET AHEAD.
THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY
CAN TO GET AHEAD.
IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING FOR
THEM.
ABOUT 20% OF THAT POPULATION IS
OUT THERE WORKING FULL TIME.
>> AND FOR EVERY FAMILY THAT IS
WORKING, THERE ARE SO MANY
OTHERS WHOSE FULL-TIME JOB IS
STAYING IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES
SYSTEM.
YOU GET A NOTICE THAT SAYS YOU
NEED TO REPORT TO THE TASK
CENTER IN THE SOUTH BRONX TO
MAINTAIN YOUR SERVICES IN THE
HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.
YOU HAVE TO SKIP WHATEVER SHIFT
YOU HAVE COMING UP.
YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR CHILD TO
SCHOOL.
I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES
WE'VE BEEN UP THERE AND THERE
ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES DRAGGING
EVERY ONE OF THEIR BELONGINGS
BEHIND THEM, BECAUSE THE HOTEL
THEY WERE STAYING AT, THE
RESIDENCY ENDED THERE.
IN ORDER TO GET ANOTHER STINT IN
A HOTEL, THEY HAD TO BRING
EVERYTHING THEY OWNED BACK UP TO
THE CENTER IN THE BRONX AND FIND
OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE
HELD NEXT.
>> WOW.
>> WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE
STREETS, WHETHER YOU'RE A SINGLE
ADULT OR A FAMILY, WHERE AM I
GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT?
IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A
SITUATION LIKE IN ONE OF THESE
HOTELS -- THE CITY WAS ONLY
RELYING ON THIS FOR EMERGENCY
PURPOSES.
NOW WE'RE FINDING FAMILIES
INSIDE THESE HOTELS FOR 120
DAYS.
AND A LOT OF THEM ARE COMPOUNDS
WHERE YOU HAVE OTHER HOTELS
AROUND THEM.
>> SO IT CAN DRAW ALL KINDS OF
PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS.
>> YEAH.
AND WE ARE NEW YORK CITY.
ONE OF THE TOP INDUSTRIES HERE
IS TOURISM.
MORE THAN 50 MILLION PEOPLE COME
TO THIS CITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR.
AND AS THE MAYOR'S ENHANCED
SAFETY PROTOCOL AT THESE HOTELS,
A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE STAYING AT
THE RAMADA HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE
HOUSING HOMELESS THERE THE DAY
OF THAT MURDER.
>> THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY,
NOT ABOUT WHO IS STAYING IN THE
HOTELS BUT THE CRIMES THAT HAVE
TAKEN PLACE THERE.
SO IF YOU'RE BOOKING YOUR
VACATION AT HOME, YOU MAY NOT
HAVE ANY CLUE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT
TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY A STAY IN A
HOTEL THAT HAS HAD A SERIOUS
CRIME TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST
FEW WEEKS OR SOMETHING THAT
MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, GOD
FORBID, WHEN YOU'RE THERE.
>> ONE HOTEL LIKES TO PORTRAY
ITSELF AS A HOTEL THAT HOUSES
FAMILIES FROM A YANKEES GAME.
>> REALLY?
THAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE
PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA.
VERY QUICKLY, JUST ONE MORE
QUESTION BEFORE WE'RE DONE.
WATCHING THE DOCUMENTARY, WE SAW
MOSTLY YOU'RE SPEAKING WITH
FAMILIES OF COLOR.
I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF
PEOPLE ASSOCIATION WHEN THEY
THINK OF HOMELESS FAMILIES.
IS THAT INDICATIVE OF
HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK?
>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.
WE MET AN INTERRACIAL COUPLE
BEFORE CHRISTMAS, A YOUNG
GENTLEMAN, HE'S WHITE FROM OHIO
AND HE'S HOMELESS.
AND HE HAS A JOB.
HE'S A WAITER AT A RESTAURANT
HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.
AND HE IS SMART.
HE WANTS OUT OF THE SYSTEM.
HE'S NOT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO
TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES
THAT THE CITY OFFERS.
HE'S TRYING TO GET A LEG UP AND
HE CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE THAT NEXT
STEP TO GET OUT OF THE HOMELESS
SERVICES SYSTEM.
AND HE IS LIKE SO MANY OTHER
FAMILIES WHERE IT'S NOT JUST
PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THIS IS A CLASS ISSUE.
THIS IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE.
THIS IS NOT JUST A RACIAL ISSUE.
>> OKAY.
LISTEN, THANK YOU BOTH SO UP
MANY FOR YOUR WORK AND JOINING
US HERE AT "METROFOCUS."
>> APPRECIATE IT.
>>> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS
PROVIDED BY --
♪ ♪
>> CORPORATE FUNDING FOR
"METROFOCUS" WAS PROVIDED BY
MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR
RETIREMENT COMPANY.
AND BY PSE&G.
SEVENING CUSTOMERS,
STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS
COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE
FUTURE.
-- Captions by VITAC --
www.vitac.com
