Shelter Campaign Accomplishments

♥ Moved Councilwoman Margarita Lopez to introduce a Homeless Bill of Rights and Grievance Process in the NYC Council;

♥ Has made the Department of Homeless Services want to fight for a Work Support component within the Housing Stability Plus Program.
♥ Moved the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to begin holding monthly meetings, and include the participation of homeless New Yorkers, to monitor problems within New York shelters.
♥ We got Deputy Commissioner Maryanne Schretzman of DHS to come to our office twice to meet with homeless individuals and families to respond to their questions and concerns regarding Housing Stability Plus (HSP), housing, shelter and EAU issues.
♥ Moved the Department of Homeless Services to hold monthly HSP workgroup meetings to deal with substandard apartments, side deals, and to work on the implementation of a Work Support Program within HSP.
♥ Worked with DHS to make significant changes at Camp LaGuardia. We got a comprehensive orientation initiated, 3 ineffective Client Caseworkers were fired in the Social Services Department, 5 new Client Caseworkers were hired in the Social Services Department, and bus procedures changed for the better.

♥ Worked with Shelter members who were residents of the Washington Hotel to get a meeting with the owner and make changes to the physical conditions of the hotel. We got them to distribute new beds to those who needed them; fix rodent infestations; post important notices to residents; put a grievance procedure in place for security guards to deal with problematic residents; repair holes in the ceiling and replace broken air conditioners; and put new locks on doors for residents.