THERE IS A CHANCE OF SPOTS
OVERNIGHT. >> THANK YOU.
>>> TO THE CITY’S GROWING
MIGRANT AND HOMELESS CRISIS,
MAYOR ADAMS USED HIS EXECUTIVE
POWERS TO ELIMINATE A SHELTER
RULE IN AN ATTEMPT TO MOVE
HOMELESS NEW YORKERS INTO PERMANENT HOUSING MORE QUICKLY.
IN TURN, TO FREE UP BEDS FOR
MIGRANTS.
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS REPORTER MELISSA IS IN THE NEWSROOM TO
SHOW US HOW THIS WOULD WORK. >> Reporter: FOR YEARS, THEY
SAID WOULD IT MAKE NO SENSE FOR
PEOPLE TO WAIT IN SHELTER FOR 90
DAYS TO QUALIFY FOR HELP MOVING
BACK OUT.
TODAY, THAT WAIT WILL STOP AS
THE CHANGE TAKES PLACE
IMMEDIATELY.
>> WE ARE SIGNING AN EMERGENCY
RULE --
>> Reporter: MAYOR ADAMS USED
HIS EMERGENCY POWERS TODAY TO
UNILATERALLY SUSPEND THE SO-CALLED 90-DAY SHELTER RULE.
>> THERE ARE MANY RIVERS FEEDING
THIS SEA OF HOMELESSNESS.
TODAY WE’RE DAMMING ONE.
>> Reporter: THE IDEA IS TO MOVE MORE PEOPLE OUT OF SHELTERS
FASTER INTO PERMANENT HOMES.
FREEING UP SPACE SO OTHERS
INCLUDING MIGRANT CAN MOVE IN.
IN THE PAST YEAR, THE NUMBER OF
PEOPLE LIVING IN CITY HOMELESS
SHELTERS HAS JUMPED FROM 46,000
TO MORE THAN 80,000.
AN ALL-TIME HIGH.
>> IT MAKES NO SENSE TO KEEP
FAMILIES IN A SHELTER FOR AN
EXTRA 90 DAYS TO START THE
PROCESS TO MOVE OUT.
>> Reporter: THE CITY COUNCIL
RECENTLY PASSED A PACKAGE OF BILLS THAT WOULD MAKE THE SAME
CHANGE.
THOSE PLANS INCLUDE A PLAN TO GIVE RENTAL VOUCHERS TO PEOPLE
FACING EVICTION, ENABLING THEM
TO SKIP THE SHELTERS ALTOGETHER.
>> WHY DO YOU NEED TO BE IN A
SHELTER IF YOU’RE AT THE
COURTHOUSE AND YOU’RE FACING
EVICTION AND YOU HAVE AN APARTMENT.
WHY NOT PROVIDE YOU WITH THOSE
NECESSARY RESOURCES SO WE CAN
KEEP YOU IN PLACE, WHICH IS MORE
COST EFFICIENT TO THE CITY IN THE LONG RUN.
>> Reporter: THE MAYOR ESTIMATES
HELPING ALL THOSE EXTRA NEW YORKERS PAY RENT WOULD COST
ANYWHERE FROM $11 TO $17
BILLION.
>> PARTS OF THAT PACKAGE WE
THINK WILL HURT TAXPAYERS AND
WE’RE NOT TRYING TO RAISE TAX
DOLLARS. WE CONE SEE HOW THEY CAN DO IT.
>> THE COST OF A VOUCHER TO
HOUSE A FAMILY IS WAY LESS THAN
WHAT IT COST TO KEEP A FAMILY IN
SHELTER. >> Reporter: DEMAND IS ONE PIECE
OF THE CITY’S HOUSING CRISIS.
SUPPLY IS THE OTHER.
ADAMS CRITICIZED STATE LAWMAKERS
TODAY FOR LEAVING NEW HOUSING
PLANS UNFINISHED IN THIS YEAR’S
SESSION.
FOR EXAMPLE, A PROPOSAL TO LET
COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS BE
CONVERTED TO RESIDENTIAL.
>> WE NEED THIS. >> Reporter: BACK TO THE 98-DAY
SHELTER RULE, IT WAS CREATED AS A DISINCENTIVE SO PEOPLE WOULD
NOT JUST GO INTO SHELTER TO
IMMEDIATELY ACCESS GOVERNMENT
RENT SUBSIDIES.
YOU WOULD HAVE TO ACTUALLY BE THERE FOR 90 DAYS.
AND THAT WAS SEEN AS A
DISINCENTIVE.
AS FOR THE PUSH TO GIVE PEOPLE
RENT SUBSIDIES WHILE THEY’RE
STILL IN THEIR HOMES WITHOUT
EVER GOING INTO SHELTER, THE MAYOR MAY VETO THAT.