New York City Department of Homeless Services
 | |
| Department overview | |
|---|---|
| Jurisdiction | New York City |
| Headquarters |
33 Beaver Street, 17th Floor New York, NY 10004[1] |
| Department executive | Gilbert Taylor[2], Commissioner of Homeless Services |
| Child department | NYC DHS Police |
| Key document | New York City Charter |
| Website |
www |
The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) is the department of the government of New York City[3] that provides services to the homeless, though its ultimate aim is to overcome homelessness.[4] The guiding principles of the department were outlined at a 1992 New York City Commission on the Homeless: to operate an emergency shelter system for people without housing alternatives, provide services and resources to assist shelter residents in gaining independent housing, and partner with local agencies and non-profits to provide these services.[5] Its regulations are compiled in title 31 of the New York City Rules.
Organization
NYC DHS operates a group of NYS Peace Officers who enforce State and City laws on DHS property, the NYC DHS Police who are responsible for safety and security inside of NYC DHS Homeless Shelters.
Programs
- Single Adult Shelters
- Adult Family Shelters
- Family with Childrens Shelthers
- Domestic Violence for victims Shelthers
- Vitamins Shelters
- Senior Citizens Shelthers
- SOR Shelthers
In 2010, the department oversaw 208 facilities with 18,616 beds and served 113,553 unique individuals.[6]
History
When the department was created in 1993, New York City was the first city to have a city department that was exclusively focused on the issue of homelessness. [7] The Department of Homeless Services was created in response to the growing number of homeless New Yorkers and the 1981 New York Supreme Court Consent Decree that mandates the State provide shelter to all homeless people.[8] Its first commissioner was Muzzy Rosenblatt, who convinced David Dinkins that the homeless shelters could be run more efficiently were it a separate department from the New York City Human Resources Administration.
References
- ↑ http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/html/contact/contact.shtml
- ↑ Commissioner Diamond's Bio on NYC.gov
- ↑ New York City Charter § 610; "There shall be a department of homeless services, the head of which shall be the commissioner of homeless services."
- ↑ "New York City Department of Homelessness Services - About". New York City Department of Homelessness Services. Retrieved 2010-02-28.
- ↑ Campbell, G. and McCarthy, E., 2000, Conveying Mission Through Outcome Measurement: Services to the Homeless in New York City, Policy Studies Journal, 28 (2), 338-352.
- ↑ "New York City Department of Homelessness Services - Critical Activities Report 2010" (PDF). New York City Department of Homelessness Services. Retrieved 2011-02-21.
- ↑ Campbell, G. and McCarthy, E., 2000, Conveying Mission Through Outcome Measurement: Services to the Homeless in New York City, Policy Studies Journal, 28 (2), 338-352.
- ↑ "The Callahan Consent Decree" (PDF).