Luxury condos for homeless families

iVillage Member
Registered: 02-19-2008
Luxury condos for homeless families
Thu, 06-04-2009 - 11:40pm

We already know most board members post in another thread on this board that a Canadian should get free insurance from U.S. taxpayers.

Well it turns out in NYC the homeless are being given luxury condos. What a wonderful country, eh?

http://wcbstv.com/local/nyc.homeless.luxury.2.1030856.html

NYC Turns Luxury Units Into Shelters For Homeless

Brooklyn Neighborhood Residents Furious Over The Fact That Public Is Footing The Bill For Such Lavish Digs

There's controversy swirling around how much New York City is paying to rent luxury condos for homeless families. The plan is making some people fighting mad.

This is not skid row.

"Oh, it's beautiful. Marble tops … hardwood floors. Everything is brand new. Special fixtures," said shelter resident Jesenia Tejada.

By all accounts it's the nicest homeless shelter in the city and some non-homeless neighbors are feeling pretty inhospitable.

"The apartments are beautiful. They're living better than a lot of people around here and they don't have to pay for it," neighbor Maria Brown said.

When the building went up the idea was to sell the units, some of them for more than $300,000. But now, even though apartments sit empty, you can't even rent them.

"Because of these tremendously difficult times and downturn in the economy here's an empty building. And we're seeing a lot more families experiencing homelessness. Let's bring the two together creatively to meet the needs of both," said Robert Hess, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services.

The city pays its standard rate of $90 a night per apartment to a contractor called Bedco, which also provides security and social services. At full occupancy it would cost taxpayers almost $200,000 a month.

"It's like home, a real apartment," shelter resident Justice Figueroa said.

But neighborhood homeowners are worried that temporary shelter will have permanent consequences.

"I really thought that they had tenants that were qualifying to get apartments in this building," Brown said. "Have you seen the apartments inside?"

Tejada said the opportunity given her and the reaction from the locals has not gone unnoticed.

"I understand their resentment but they should also understand these are not just any people. These are people that are homeless. Small children with nowhere to go you know? And if they put 'em here just to give 'em a glimmer of hope there's nothing wrong with that," Tejada said.

Homeless numbers are expected to rise as property values fall, turning more dream homes into houses of hope.

On a typical night, 35,000 homeless people stay in 250 shelters around the city.

The Department of Homeless Services provides temporary emergency shelter to homeless individuals in a safe environment. There are a variety of ways for the homeless in New York City to receive services. Go to the DHS' website for more. DHS.