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    NY court: Singles don't have to prove homelessness

    Associated Press – Tue, Feb 21, 2012

    NEW YORK (AP) — Unmarried homeless people don't have to prove that they have no other options before they enter a city shelter, a court ruled Tuesday.

    The decision in Manhattan state Supreme Court is in response to a city proposal that would have required people to show they're truly homeless, with documents if possible.

    "Today's court ruling declaring the Department of Homeless Services' eligibility requirements for single homeless adults unlawful is a tremendous victory and I commend the court for its action," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn said in a statement.

    The city plans to appeal.

    The council voted in December to sue Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration over the policy. The city delayed enacting it pending the court review.

    The judge ruled that the mayor's administration didn't communicate properly with City Council when making the policy changes.

    Quinn said neither the council nor the public was consulted about a policy that was "cruel and punitive." It would have put thousands more New Yorkers on the street, since it required "people who could least shoulder it" to provide proof they have nowhere else to stay, Quinn said.

    Bloomberg responded Tuesday that the same standards should apply to everyone seeking shelter.

    Otherwise, the mayor said, judges should explain to New Yorkers "why they think that you should just have a right to walk in and say, 'Whether or not I need services, give it to me.'"

     

    26 comments

    • johnf
      johnf  •  3 mths ago
      how do you prove you have nowhere to go.
      • Rational Monkey
        Rational Monkey 3 mths ago
        Run for the Republican nomination for President.
      • Dataman
        Dataman 3 mths ago
        @Rational Monkey, VERRRRRY good one.
      • Stev
        Stev 3 mths ago
        You have to tell them where you lived for the past year or so and if you truly can't stay there - eviction, overcrowded, domestic violence, etc - then you have no other place to live.
    • Chris Chase
      Chris Chase  •  North Pole, Alaska  •  3 mths ago
      What homeless person carries around documents? And what would a document say, "I certify that I live under the north side of the Brooklyn Bridge"? Politicians are so stupid and out of touch.

      Meanwhile, the politicians and lawyers bickering on this ridiculous idea are getting paid millions on the taxpayer's dime.
    • ThinkngMn
      ThinkngMn  •  3 mths ago
      Ya right homeless shelters are such fine arrangements everyone is clamoring to get in even when they don't need too. This idiot Mayor Bloomburg needs to spend a night in the shelter so he can talk from knowledge not speculation.
      • Miss Chris
        Miss Chris 3 mths ago
        That wa my first thought. Why else would you be going to a shelter. It ain't the Ritz!
    • Dataman
      Dataman  •  3 mths ago
      This is the funniest political nonsense I have seen in at least a few minutes. Prove you are homeless. Have a document for it. I really AM LOL.
      • true democrat
        true democrat 3 mths ago
        and to think, I used to say the dumbest thing a politician said was " we have to pass it before we can see what's in it", not no mo, but both have the mental disease called, liberalism.
      • Dataman
        Dataman 3 mths ago
        @true democrat, oh, oh, saying "liberalism" is a sign of that disease. Better get a check-up. TU for posting.
    • Puggles P
      Puggles P  •  Brooklyn, New York  •  3 mths ago
      singles pay higher taxes when they are working so they should get better benefits when they need them.
    • dhoch2000
      dhoch2000  •  Cleveland, Ohio  •  3 mths ago
      who would be the person handing out the document saying the person has no place to live blank stare
      • A Yahoo! User 3 mths ago
        You'd be blue too if all your taxes went to toothless single mothers in ohio.
    • JohnG
      JohnG  •  3 mths ago
      It's logically impossible to prove a negative. You can prove someone has a home but you can't prove they don't. More of what we've come to expect from politicians.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Hicksville, New York  •  3 mths ago
      See, this is why I renew my homeless certification once a year... It's costs a pretty penny, and I usually have to collect bottles and cans for months... but it's worth it.
    • lorraine
      lorraine  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 mths ago
      when i visit the big apple, i always book into the closest homeless shelter to save money, those hotels are just tooooo pricey!!
    • Dobbie
      Dobbie  •  Dallas, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      Homeless people don't have papers u idiots;Bloomberg the billionaire can really relate can't he?!
      • Clown
        Clown 3 mths ago
        HOMELESS PEOPLE RUIN EVERYTHING.
    • B
      B  •  Richardson, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      I somehow feel dumbmer for having read this article
    • USA
      USA  •  Kent, Washington  •  3 mths ago
      I'm sure everyone dreams of sleeping in a homeless shelter; good thing they thought of ways to screen out the undeserving ones.
    • NunYa B. Ness
      NunYa B. Ness  •  3 mths ago
      What are you supposed to do, bring in notes from your mom? How do you prove a negative?
    • RedBambie
      RedBambie  •  3 mths ago
      how do you prove you're homeless?
    • Clown
      Clown  •  3 mths ago
      Give all the homeless 1-way bus tickets to florida. warmer there. problem solved for ny.
    • Dave
      Dave  •  Terrell, Texas  •  3 mths ago
      With the economy, present goverment, and job wages the way they are most people are possibly 2 or 3 paychecks from being homeless, even us. To say show us proof to the ones who tryed to make it, and not the ones who just gave up is unjust thank god we don"t live in N.Y.
    • Dave
      Dave  •  Gainesville, Florida  •  3 mths ago
      The shopping cart is a good indicator, when it's full of trash and dirty blankets.
    • bandofotters
      bandofotters  •  Wausau, Wisconsin  •  3 mths ago
      Instead they have to prove that they are single?
    • true democrat
      true democrat  •  3 mths ago
      occupy shelters, yeeeaaaa.
    • Sun of a Beach
      Sun of a Beach  •  Pleasanton, California  •  3 mths ago
      The best part about being homeless is you don't have to worry too much about bill collectors calling you.
     Post a comment
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