Joining Forces to Help the Homeless

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/23/opinion/joining-forces-to-help-the-homeless.html

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To the Editor:

Re “City Combining Two Agencies That Combat Homelessness” (news article, April 12): Perhaps we have a new paradigm for city agencies: If they can’t collaborate, merge!

For decades now, families and individuals living in shelters or on our streets have slipped through the cracks of our city’s broken social service network. While neighborhoods are often replete with nonprofit and government agencies, services are often disjointed, with little or no meaningful collaboration.

The city’s Department of Homeless Services — the agency charged with running shelters — was always quick to point out that its mission was limited to managing the homeless shelter system. But what about addressing the underlying issues that are at the root of homelessness? “Not my job.” Therein lies the problem.

No fewer than seven city agencies receive funding to provide services to the homeless, with the lion’s share going to the Department of Homeless Services. Unfortunately, city agencies are like little feudal states, each constrained by its own budget and narrow mission.

Hopefully now, with the merger of the Human Resources Administration and the Department of Homeless Services, we’ll see the start of a new approach that erases the arbitrary and artificial boundaries that limited the effectiveness of these two agencies. And, more important, perhaps there’ll now be an opportunity to design a model that can coalesce community resources and truly focus on homelessness prevention.

ARNOLD S. COHEN

President and Chief Executive

The Partnership for the Homeless

New York