Syracuse experts who work with the homeless say it’s just not realistic to get everyone who lives on the streets inside when temperatures go below freezing. Governor Andrew Cuomo issued an executive order this week mandating just that. But Housing and Homeless Coalition Coordinator Melissa Marrone has found forcing people inside doesn’t work.
“We tried to do something like this last year and it failed miserably. It’s possible for us to be able to build that relationship and bring them in. But bring them in against their will; that just doesn’t respect anyone’s concerns or acknowledge the repercussions of that.”
She says she’s glad to have the mandate in their toolbox as they try to house every homeless person. But the reality is that many have substance abuse, mental health, trauma and other problems that make some homeless individuals very resistant to any kind of help. Marrone says Syracuse has had success when teams – a psychiatric expert, a substance abuse counselor – accompany a shelter worker.
“They have gone out together and really tried to bring people in, meeting them exactly where they are, which is outdoors, using that expertise to facilitate that. We’ve been pretty successful with that, especially with the increase in synthetic marijuana use.”
Marrone adds Syracuse has enough shelter space to temporarily bring homeless people in off the streets. She says the area is short on affordable, supported housing for more permanent solutions.
Governor Cuomo spoke about the executive order on W-I-N-S radio and pledged support.
“If the local governments need help, we will provide it. At the same time I’m going to make sure the local governments are doing what they need to do and they’re doing it well and they’re doing it competently. But we can’t have people saying ‘I’d rather stay on the streets and freeze, than go into a shelter.’”
Cuomo was responding to claims that New York City shelters are not safe, scaring people away. Marrone says safety can also be a concern in local shelters, which has to be overcome to convince people to come in from the cold. Cuomo explained one reason he made the order was to continue to set a high bar for state policies.
“We passed laws in New York that no other state has. We passed marriage equality; we passed gun control laws that no state has. Se we believe as a people, as a society, we want to make sure every New Yorkers has a place to be sheltered and doesn’t have to be in the cold weather.”
