New York City just got a little bit saner. You helped make it happen, and I'm writing to say thanks.
On Friday, Mayor Bloomberg announced that the City is dropping plans to charge homeless families "rent" to stay in shelters. Instead, the City will have shelter residents set aside any extra money they make in savings plans. Once they leave the shelters, they can use these savings to find real housing and get back on their feet.
In just two months, we went from a misguided plan that would trap homeless New Yorkers in shelters to a real incentive program that will help rebuild their lives.
That change happened after we spoke out. More than 6,000 New Yorkers signed the petition against shelter rent sponsored by Working Families and the Coalition for the Homeless. Our effort got the media's attention, and once the press started reporting on the plan to charge the homeless rent, City and State leaders quickly began looking for other options.
Assemblymember Keith Wright and State Senator Daniel Squadron deserve much thanks and praise for leading the charge in Albany to stop the City's rent plan and promote the savings program instead. And Mayor Bloomberg and City leaders deserve credit for embracing this alternative.
You can read more about the City's announcement in this New York Times article.
This is a real victory for all New Yorkers. Thanks again for being a part of it. Now let's win some more.
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