|
Hardcore Homeless On Their Own in WP After August 5. Drop-In Dropped.
Posted on Tuesday, July 03 @ 11:00:00 EDT by jfbailey
|
|
|
WPCNR THE HOMELESS NEWS. By John F. Bailey July 3, 2007. Updated 3:40 P.M. EDT: The "homeless buses" will no longer sweep the homeless off city streets nightly courtesy of Westchester County as of August 5.
They will be left to wander the streets nightly.
According to county spokesperson Victoria Hochman, the County is closing the 85 Court Street Drop-in shelter. Ms. Hochman corrected WPCNR that she did not say the homeless would be left to wander the streets, however Ms. Hochman did say there would be no more bus service for the homeless with no place to go after August 5, which in effect, leaves those homeless to wander the streets. WPCNR apologizes for indicating in any way Ms. Hochman said the county would leave the homeless to walk the streets all night.
By this action, the county abandons its 18-month policy of providing homeless persons not enrolled in the Department of Social Services system, shelter and a bed to sleep -- instead of an alley, a doorway, a parking garage, the fountain, a sidewalk grate.
As of August 5, the homeless population of some 50 or more men will be left on their own at the mercy of oppressive heat, thunderstorms, rain, early frost.
The county has granted White Plains what the Common Council and the Mayor have asked for, according to county spokesperson, Victoria Hochman, that the 85 Court Street will be closed, as of August 5. The spokesperson could not confirm if the county had officially notified the city of its closing yesterday or this morning. The Mayor's Executive Officer, Paul Wood told WPCNR he had learned of the possibility of its closing from a reporter. As of 10:45 A.M. this morning, Wood said the county had still not officially notified the city of the closing.
Wood also said Ms. Hochman and the Department of Communications of the County are "incorrect," reading from the resolution passed by the Common Council which called on the county "to relocate" the drop-in shelter from White Plains, not to close it. Wood said, Rita Malmud, the Council President, misinterpreted the resolution in previous comments to the media.
First Ride: Homeless Are Picked Up to go to 85 Court Street, January 2006. The nightly "Homeless Sweep" will end August 5 when the Drop In Shelter at 85 Court (below) closes. Photos, WPCNR News Archive
Hochman confirmed the homeless will be provided shelter at other shelters in White Plains with arrangements with the county after November 1. Though those shelters in White Plains are at capacity in terms of beds. They include the Coachman, Open Arms and the Grace Church facility. Whether you could provide space or standing or sitting room for the 43 to 50 persons who visit 85 Court Street in the cold months has yet to be seen.
Hochman told WPCNR but said county workers would urge "regulars" at 85 Court Street to agree to enter the county system, and stated unequivocably that there would be no drop-in shelter service at all in the county..
Paul Wood, City Executive Officer, called WPCNR at 6:15 PM last night to say he was stunned to learn from a reporter that the county was closing the shelter. Wood said it was the first he had heard of it. Chairman of the Board of Legislators Bill Ryan of White Plains was contacted by WPCNR to confirm the story, but did not return a WPCNR call to confirm the report. Wood told WPCNR the city had only asked the county to relocate the shelter because of its proximity to the downtown.
Hardcore Homeless Back on the Streets Permanently as of August 5.
The secret decision to close the shelter without official notice reverses the county policy that precipitated the opening of the shelter at 85 Court in January 2006. The county had said at the time that 85 Court was to house homeless persons who refused to enter the county Department of Social Services system -- so-called hardcore homeless -- whereby they agree to a treatment program, turn over control of their income, and seek employment counseling among other requirements.
Now, unable to find any community that would house a shelter, the county appears by this decision to allow undocumented and untracked homeless to wander about White Plains nightly after August 5. They will not be able to enter shelters elsewhere in White Plains until November, and will be left to their own devices overnight.
Hochman said the Council of Governments convened by County Executive Andrew Spano to address the Drop-In situation, had been unable to find or suggest another location in the county for a Drop-In Shelter. "No one stepped up," Hochman said.
Politicians Ignore Issue
No other local White Plains politician worked to find a solution to where the drop-in shelter could go to in White Plains. County Legisltor William Ryan of White Plains had said he would reach out to work with Mayor Delfino to find a site, but neither politician reached out to each other to attempt a resolution jointly. No Common Council person from White Plains stepped forward on the issue to seek other sites within White Plains either.
Wood said he had no plans at this time for handling the fifty or more vagrants expected to be wandering the White Plains streets nightly, let alone the question of who they are: "We'll have to work with the police, I guess," Wood said, saying the homeless will gravitate to the fountain in the warmer nights, which he felt would be an issue.
| 
