Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond called into the program tonight. He said more than 60% of those who enter the shelter system were previously living with someone else. Therefore, the goal of the City's new eligibility policy is to help these people get back to where they were, instead of staying at a shelter. The question the critics have is, "Why did those people leave their previous living conditions?" They argue the environment must not have been safe, or acceptable, if someone is choosing to enter a shelter. Advocates for the homeless believe shelters are not options, they are last resorts, and no one should be turned away. The City says there are many who abuse the system, and I'm sure this is true in some cases. Clearly, there are valid arguments on both sides of the issue.

One day after public outcry over a plan to interview single homeless adults seeking shelter, the City agreed to delay the policy. The new protocol was scheduled to begin Monday, but advocates for the homeless asked a judge to review the legality of turning New Yorkers away if they have alternative sleeping options.

Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Seth Diamond said the policy change is designed to "preserve shelters as a valuable resource for those most in need." Diamond added he is "confident that the new eligibility requirements are lawful." Mayor Bloomberg's administration is defending its handling of homelessness, after a report found a record number of people seeking shelter in the five boroughs.

Why do you think DHS agreed to delay its new screening process for single adults seeking shelter? Should a judge block the policy from taking effect? How would you improve the state of homelessness in New York City?

Also, if you have a suggestion for tonight's Snap Poll question, send it along. Be sure to include three possible responses.

Send your thoughts using the link above.

Recently 12,000 households that had been part of the move from shelters to homes had their housing vouchers eliminated in a so-called budgetary move. Where are those families now?

When will the people of NYC rise up in opposition to a budget that is elastic when it comes to an array of gadgets no New Yorker needs (Countdown clocks in subways, GPS, Citytime), not to mention overpaid consultants leeching out our Citys' wealth, but cannot find the will or the way to pay the workers who keep our subways and hotels and office buildings safe and clean? Or the compassion to house our citizens.

Time for a new city administration. Past time.

Vicki
NYC

No need to screen the homeless for anything when you can send them to Zuccotti Park.

Denise, Flatbush, Brooklyn

It's interesting how Bloomberg keeps backing off of his usual cold and cruel methods these days. Like the OWS eviction and now this. What's up with that. Maybe he will even give out his weekend schedule.

Allen, East Village

Mayor Bloomberg just does not get it. If you are reduced to the option of going to spend the night at a shelter, you really don't have better options and to dehumanize adults more by asking the obvious is just a heartless policy.

Darlene
Brooklyn

DHS agreed to delay its new process because pressure was put on it by the City Council yesterday and because NYS OTDA sent a letter today to Commissioner Diamond stating that they did not approve of the new policy nor the way that in which DHS went about implementing it.

Since the new process is being delayed, a judge does not have to act right now, but will need to in the future if it is about to take affect as originally planned.

I would improve the state of homelessness in New York City by investing more money and resources into supportive housing. It is a successful and cost effective model.

Jason

The question should be more like how does he handle anything. He's a bust for sure. All I can say is that the amount of people sleeping in the street or in shelters is just mind boggling. We all know that times are bad but the price of the rents are the fault of this city and their politicians that have sold the city to the landlords and this if can remember has started way back and this mayor continues do the same. All he does is build, build and in the end we never get a fair share of low income housing. Everything just keep rising and again I say THIS MAYOR IS COMPLETELY OUT OF TOUCH.

WE KEEP SINGING THE SAME SONG.

maxxiee
mp

I am going to ask this once again -- why would a person or family choose to live in a homeless shelter when they have other options??? If they had a family member or friend to stay with that is what they would do! Homeless shelters are not luxuries or hotels! Is Seth Diamond a Mayoral Appointee -- or should I really just know the answer to that question? Is this a way to save money? Well why doesn't Mayor Bloomberg raise taxes on MILLIONAIRES/BILLIONAIRES to get revenues for the City as he tells the Super Committee to do in Washington. He should put his money where his mouth is!

Lisa - Upper east side

Could it possibly be that Bloomberg is more competent at snow removal? Never thought I'd say that.

Iris
UES

It is surprising to imagine that our society shuns the poor and the homeless.

It wasn't like that in the past. What is happening?

That is exactly where our taxes should go not to resolve unresolvable issues thousands of miles away from home.

Rafael
Bushwick

The woman who was on tape just before the break said it perfectly. Perhaps the place where the single homeless person was staying had given all that they could give.

How much money will be diverted from actually helping the homeless to interview these single homeless people?

Bill
Manhattan

what the city does when they screen families is what they will do with single adults - they force families to double and triple up with friends and relatives, causing overcrowded apartments and pushing people onto those who don't want them. it's disgusting

meryl in manhattan

i think a the shelter should be for families only a lot of men take this as the way out not to pay rent is not fair i think that yes they should be taken out of the shelter system

ramona

Homeless=lack of home, not a "lesser" home. However, Anyone taking advantage of tax funded facilities should be able to answer a few questions to make sure they are using public funds properly. It is only fair to taxpayers and to the other homeless people who are placed with them, who should feel safe. If questioned properly, homeless people might welcome the attention, and administrators can make sure they are placed in proper accommodations.

Tj ft greene

I think the policy is ridiculous. Where exactly does that leave an individual that has become recently homeless? The stress and shame that a person goes through isn't punishment enough? Most people don't like to ask for help unless they really need it, so I guess it makes sense to people who would never be in such a situation, to humiliate people even more by denying them the simple comfort of shelter. Our beloved mayor hasn't had to struggle to find a warm meal or bed ever, so I imagine that his views on this are so distant that he could never understand the situation these people are in. I guess this plan will finally put a hole in the lie he told when he claimed there were less homeless people is this city. I've personally seen how this city treats it's homeless and it's a disgusting outrage that no person can ever truly recover from. But the thinking has always been "They're refuse anyway, throw them out with the rest of the garbage".

Malissa

I don't think the commissioner is representing the system correctly.

Jose

Have no problem with the screening process. The judge should not block the policy. The reality is, there are people who are taking advantage of the homeless program. It’s simply naive to believe some people are not abusing the program. Let’s take care of those who REALLY need help.

Tony
Staten Island

The new law regarding the homeless in NYC is ridiculous. If the homeless had some where else to stay they wouldn't be sleeping in the street.

Joe from Albany

Bloomberg's heart (if he has one) gets harder and colder with every day of his illegal third term. The man is unfit for public office because he doesn't understand what public service is. His minions in the DHS follow his directions.

Frances
East Village

It is disturbing to read the posts to the blog from last night and tonight of those who feel that some of the homeless population of NYC are trying to "game the system" or "get a free room" or that they somehow actually enjoy being hungry and dirty and in need of care both medical and psychological. You should count your blessings that you are not one paycheck away from being dispossessed.

Nick
Hell's K.

The city postpones homeless policy until judge looks at the legality of denying single homeless persons admission to shelters if their is possible alternatives. Well how about that. I don't think anyone should be deny because the bottom line is that no one would go to shelter if they did not have to. I should know about that because I was homeless after I got out of the Navy following the Vietnam conflict. Look at the facts : unemployment is up to 12% for unemployed veterans and some because of that are homeless. The action by the city I find appalling and a judge should find this also. Those who fought for this country need help and respect..

Freddy-Glen Oaks Village.

My son and I used to be in the shelter system we had to share the shelter with huge bugs and mice and domestic abuse by men towards their partners while we were there.Why would any one delibertly leave there home to live in a ny city homeless shelter we had curfews we had clients kicking the outside door in because they had been removed from the site they give you rules that you better obey or else DHS should be ashamed it would be better if they just came out and said we are not going to help any of you they have already done that when they decided to end the advantage rental program my son and I are both working now and DHS has decided that we should be homeless by stopping the program if we could afford the rent we would never had been in the system we have an apt in a nice neighborhood that we want to keep but we are struggling because of our system for the poor,low income and middle income, this is a third world country,I currently have no medical coverage because our system decided that I make too much money I work part time and make 9.50 per hr. is this the way they help people that want to help themselves since we all have been deemed lazy bums and why are they interviewing people who have never been homeless that usually feel that all people like me are just looking for a free ride there are criminals and thieves throughout our government and I don’t hear anything about any of them being punished for using the system for their own personal gain.God help the people that are not homeless that feel we do not have the right to live.

Carolyn

Is there a way to start an angel fund for this poor man who called in tonight who might lose his son who is in foster care? I think folks want to help someone who is in such terrible straits. Or can he be referred to one of the agencies in the NYTimes Neediest Cases fund.

How can we help him?

Melissa in Kew Gardens

Where is the housing for the Middle and Lower Income residents of this city ? It is a crying shame that Mayor Bloomberg thinks that this is a satisfactory policy to implement, especially now when we are entering the coldest months of the year.

The policy states that there will be "Trained Staff" to handle the process. That is highly unlikely because of the beauracratic run around that people already experience when they have to apply for any type of Social Services. All that really takes place is a redundant routine of making copies of the same information to be shuffled around every six months.

The Mayor has not demonstrated effective leadership for the 99% of the citizens that are in need of decent housing. All of the new construction that has taken place during his tenure provides tax brakes and subsidies to the builders in exchange for a hand full of apartments being set aside for affordable housing in each of these buildings. While those that can afford the Market rates move in resulting in the gentrification of even more neighborhoods. If you really want to know how effective the system is, go undercover and apply for shelter or food stamps or medicaid. We are constantly hearing about the limited ability of our already "strained budgets" to address the needs of the people.

No one in their right mind would willingly go to a shelter if they had any other alternative. I know people that sit in Penn Station and Grand Central Terminal simply because they have no where to go. And while they are shuffling around the city they are shlepping their possessions with them because you cannot leave anything in the shelter during the daytime.

One thing that is good is that there will not be another term as Mayor and hopefully not as Vice-President either. I can only hope that we will elect a future Mayor that will be concerned for All of the people all of the time and not just at election time.

Julia