After completing a 90-day review, the Mayor is rolling out a plan to improve services for homeless people. But some advocates say there are extra steps they'd like to see him take. NY1's Lori Chung has details.
"We know that we can keep people from ending up in shelter if we get to them in time," Mayor Bill de Blasio said at a press conference Monday.
Prevention is now an essential part of the city's plan to drive down the homeless rate.
A number the mayor says has jumped 115% over the last twenty years.
"Shelters used to be overwhelmingly single adults, now shelters are predominantly, people in shelters are predominantly families," de Blasio said.
Helping those at risk of eviction stay put is one in a four-pronged approach that includes helping current shelter residents into permanent housing, a full launch of the HomeStat program which uses outreach teams to bring people in off the street, and reforming the conditions and improving security, responding to longstanding concerns about violence and illegal activity in shelters.
And to improve accountability and track results the city's Department of Homeless Services and human resources administration will now answer to one commissioner. Some advocates say they're hopeful.
"This reorganization and the emphasis on putting resources towards housing based solutions is going to make a difference," said Mary Brosnahan with Coalition for the Homeless.
But activists with picture the homeless say the city's plan fails to include concerns of the homeless themselves.
"They're doing their best however they need to have some clients there speaking on the conditions," said Arvernetta Henry with Picture the Homeless.
Henry says the group made its own suggestions for reform to the city, which weren't included in the plan, she thinks doesn't get to the root of the problem.
"I would like to see them roll back the rent, this would help a whole lot of people from going into the shelter system," Henry said.