June 23, 2016. MetroFocus Special: Homelessness in NYC

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS' -- HOMELESSNESS HERE AT HOME.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ISSUES OF OUR TIME.

NEW YORK CITY MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN FORCED OUT OF THEIR HOMES.

BUT YOU'LL NEVER BELIEVE WHERE THE CITY IS POLICING THEM.

VICTIMS OF A WAYWARD ECONOMY.

CASUALTIES, WIDESPREAD GENTRIFICATION.

THE STAKES NEVER SO HIGH FOR THE CITY'S POOR.

THE STATISTICS OF PEOPLE LIVING ON THE STREETS IS FRIGHTENING.

1 IN 9 KIDS HAVE NO PLACE TO CALL HOME, AND 1 IN 10 ARE HOMELESS WAR VETERANS TRYING TO SURVIVE.

PERHAPS THE MOST STARTLING DISCOVERY OF ALL, 1 IN 5 ON THE STREETS HAS A FULL-TIME JOB.

TONIGHT, THE HOMELESS, NO LONGER INVISIBLE OR FORGOTTEN.

BUT SEARCHING FOR OPPORTUNITY AND CHASING THEIR DREAMS.

ALL THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

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THIS IS 'METROFOCUS,' WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN, FUNDING WAS PROVIDED BY -- FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM IS PROVIDED BY THE FORD FOUNDATION.

> NOW FOR A REVEALING REPORT.

NEW YORK'S WPIX ONE YEAR IN THE MAKING.

WE BEGAN REPORTING ON THE HOMELESS CHRIS ES MORE THAN ONE YEAR AGO BEFORE IT HIT THE HEADLINES.

TONIGHT, AS PART OF OUR INITIATIVE, CHASING THE DREAM, POVERTY AND OPPORTUNITY IN AMERICA, THEY'LL REVEAL THE NEW REALITY OF HOMELESSNESS ACROSS OUR REGION AND TAKE US INSIDE SOME NEW SHELTERS WHERE YOU ACTUALLY MAY HAVE STAYED YOURSELF.

CONFUSED?

SO WERE WE.

TAKE A LOOK.

NOTHING CHANGED.

ABSOLUTELY NOTHING CHANGED.

I FEEL NO CHANGE.

IT'S THE SAME THING ALL OVER AGAIN.

THERE'S NO HELP.

Reporter: ROBERT, A HOMELESS FATHER, SAYS HE DOES NOT MIND HAVING HIS IDENTITY REVEALED.

IT IS A SENTIMENT WE HEARD REPEATEDLY FROM SEVERAL HOMELESS FAMILIES, COMING AT A TIME WHEN NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL De BLASIO AND HIS ADMINISTRATION WANT THE PUBLIC TO BELIEVE THEY ARE TURNING A NEW PAGE IN THE HOMELESS CRISIS.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT THIS -- WHAT MOVEMENT THEY'RE TALKING ABOUT.

Reporter: HOMELESS FAMILIES DID NOT MINCE WORDS WHEN ASKED HOW THE CITY, UNDER A NEW HOMELESS SERVICES REGIME, IS NOW HANDLING THEIR CASES.

LIKE [ BLEEP ].

Reporter: MANY TELL US THEY ARE EMOTIONALLY BEATEN DOWN.

THEIR PROBLEMS FALLING ON DEAF EARS.

[ INDISCERNIBLE ]

IT IS A BRUTAL MURDER SHOCKING THE ENTIRE CITY.

Reporter: FOR MONTHS, WE HAVE BEEN INVESTIGATING SECURITY AT THE CITY'S DESIGNATED HOMELESS HOTELS, WHERE FAMILIES ARE HOUSED ALONG WITH REGULAR PAYING GUESTS.

AND OFTEN SUBJECTED TO A GLARING LACK OF SECURITY.

THIS IS AN ATROCIOUS CRIME.

Reporter: THAT WAS NEW YORK CITY MAYOR BILL De BLASIO ON FEBRUARY 10th, HOURS AFTER A HOMELESS MOTHER AND HER TWO CHILDREN, JUST 1 AND 2 YEARS OLD, WERE STABBED TO DEATH AT THE RAMADA ON STATEN ISLAND.

THE CITY ADMITTED THERE WAS NO SECURITY ON SITE AT THE TIME OF THEIR DEATHS.

IN RESPONSE, THE MAYOR PROMISED HOTELS WOULD HAVE ACCESS TO INCREASED SECURITY.

THAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IMMEDIATELY, AT NO CHARGE TO THE HOTEL.

Reporter: THE MAYOR ALSO ADDED HE WOULD BEGIN TO WEAN THE CITY OFF ITS DEPENDENCY ON HOMELESS HOTELS.

STOP USING HOTELS, THAT IS THE GOAL.

THERE WILL BE A MOMENT WHEN THERE IS A NEED WE TURN TO HOTELS.

BUT THE GOAL IS TO STOP USING HOTELS ALL TOGETHER.

Reporter: SIX WEEKS LATER, WE DECIDED TO INVESTIGATE FOR OURSELVES, AT THE END OF THE CITY'S SELF-IMPOSED 90 DAY REVIEW PERIOD.

OUR REPORTING TOOK US TO THIS DAYS INN IN THE BRONX, DURING THE SAME WEEK IN APRIL WHEN THE NYPD REPORTED TWO MORE HOMICIDES INSIDE THE CITY'S SHELTER SYSTEM.

WATCH AS A PHOTOGRAPHER STROLLS RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS, PAST THE FRONT DESK WORKER SITTING BEHIND BULLET PROOF GLASS.

AND INTO THE ELEVATOR.

THERE WAS NO SECURITY IN SIGHT.

A LITTLE MORE THAN 30 SECONDS LATER, HE WAS ON THE SAME FLOOR WHERE THE CITY HOUSED HOMELESS FAMILIES.

SUDDENLY, A WOMAN AND CHILD EMERGED FROM A ROOM IN FRONT OF THEM.

IMAGINE FOR A MOMENT IF OUR PHOTOGRAPHER WAS THERE TO DO HOME.

A NOTICE ON BULLET PROOF GLASS STATES THE BUSINESS IS CASH ONLY.

INTERNAL CITY RECORDS OBTAINED SHOWS THIS IS ANOTHER OF THE CITY'S HOMELESS HOTELS, WHICH EARNS SIGNIFICANT REVENUE BY BILLING THE De BLASIO ADMINISTRATION TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS.

ROOMS CAN BE RENTED OVERNIGHT OR FOR AS LITTLE AS FOUR HOURS.

WE CHECKED IN, WITHOUT A RESERVATION, AND WALKED UP TO OUR ROOM, DIRECTLY ACROSS FROM A YOUNG HOMELESS MOTHER WHO SAYS SHE'S BEEN HERE TWO MONTHS AND COUNTING.

THERE WAS NOT ONE SECURITY GUARD ON OUR FLOOR.

THERE'S CHILDREN AND STUFF ON THIS FLOOR.

AND YOU GUYS RENTED A ROOM ACROSS THE HALLWAY FROM A SMALL CHILD.

YOU COULD BE ANYBODY.

YOU COULD BE A PEDOPHILE, ANYTHING.

Reporter: FOR THE HOMELESS FAMILIES LIVING HERE, STRUGGLING TO FIND STABILITY, THIS IS NOT THEIR NIGHT.

NO KITCHEN, TATTERED RUGS.

ALONG WITH COMPANY CLIMBING THE CURTAINS.

OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS, A LAW ENFORCEMENT TELLS US THE NYPD HAS RESPONDED TO SEVERAL DISTURBING CRIMES HERE.

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ASSAULTS, INDECENT EXPOSURE TO NAME A FEW.

DO YOU FEEL SAFE HERE?

NO.

BECAUSE ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN AT ANY TIME.

Reporter: THE SAME SOURCE DESCRIBES THIS HOTEL AS OUT OF CONTROL.

YOU CAN'T RECORD IN HERE.

Reporter: IF THIS LOOKS FAMILIAR, IT IS BECAUSE LAST FALL, WE EXPOSED FORMER DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER GILBERT TAYLOR FOR NOT HAVING A TRUE UNDERSTANDING OF THE HOMELESS CRISIS.

EVEN WHEN WENTING HIM WITH HIS OWN FACTS.

OUR DATA WOULD BE FAMILIES LANGUISHING IN SHELTERS, BECAUSE THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

Reporter: I HAVE THIS REPORT, COMMISSIONER, RIGHT HERE.

I'M LOOKING AT A REPORT THAT STATES WITH YOUR NAME ATTACHED TO THE TOP OF IT.

NOT ONLY WERE FAMILIES LANGUISHING IN SHELTER, BUT OUR INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE CITY RELIED MORE THAN EVER ON HOTELS TO WAREHOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES, IN ROOMS THAT IN SOME CASES WERE RIGHT NEXT DOOR TO REGULAR PAYING GUESTS.

RECORDS OBTAINED CLEARLY SHOW THE CITY SPENT AT LEAST $3.5 MILLION ON HOTEL ROOMS DURING THE FINAL FOUR MONTHS OF LAST YEAR.

ADDITIONALLY, THE CITY ROUTINELY OVERPAID FOR HOTEL ROOMS, AS WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE RESERVATIONS ONLINE FOR MUCH LESS ON THE HOTEL'S CORPORATE SITE.

THIS CAUGHT THE EYE OF COMPTROLLER SCOTT STRINGER.

STHZ IS A QUESTIONABLE PATTERN VERY DISTURBING.

Reporter: COMMISSIONER TAYLOR, APPOINTED BY MAYOR De BLASIO, ABRUPTLY RESIGNED.

HE MADE A CHOICE.

I RESPECT AND SUPPORT HIS CHOICE.

Reporter: THE MAYOR ALSO ANNOUNCED THE COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF VHS AND TASKED HUMAN RESOURCES ADMINISTRATION COMMISSIONER STEVEN BANKS TO RUN TWO AGENCIES.

BANKS' FIRST GOAL, TO SPEND THE NEXT 90 DAYS IMPROVING CONDITIONS FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES.

AND IN LIGHT OF THE MURDERS AT THE RAMADA ON STATEN ISLAND IN FEBRUARY, SAFETY BECAME A MAJOR INITIATIVE.

HOWEVER, OUR UNDERCOVER VIDEO CAPTURED AT SEVERAL HOTELS, INCLUDING THE PARK HOTEL IN FLUSHING QUEENS, SHOWS OUR PHOTOGRAPHER WALKING RIGHT THROUGH THE FRONT DOORS.

AS YOU CAN SEE ONCE AGAIN, THERE WAS NO ONE THERE TO STOP US.

AND IN LESS THAN 45 SECONDS, HE WAS ON THE FLOORS WHERE HOMELESS PEOPLE WERE PLACED.

DURING OUR VISIT TO A FOURTH HOMELESS HOTEL, THIS QUALITY INN IN BROWNSVILLE, BROOKLYN, WIFE AND MOTHER TERESA ROBINSON SAYS THIS IS A LIFE SHE IS DESPERATELY TRYING TO ESCAPE.

I REALLY DON'T UNDERSTAND, AND IT STRESSES ME OUT BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M STAGNATED HERE.

Reporter: BUT AS WE LEARNED, THE VAST MAJORITY OF ROOMS ARE USED TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS.

AND WHILE THERE IS A SECURITY SYSTEM IN PLACE TO PREVENT HOMELESS FAMILIES FROM ACCESSING WARM COFFEE AND BREAKFAST, AVAILABLE TO REGULAR PAYING GUESTS --

IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, THERE WAS LIKE FIVE WEEKS.

Reporter: WHAT THEY SAY THEY HAVE BEEN SERVED UP WITH ARE PLENTY OF VIOLENT NIGHTS.

IN FACT, THERE WAS NO SECURITY PRESENT WHEN AN ARGUMENT BROKE OUT OUTSIDE OUR DOOR.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU SMELL WEED OR OTHER DRUGS?

EVERY DAY.

Reporter: WHAT ARE YOU SMELLING?

EVERYTHING, EVERYTHING.

MARIJUANA, CIGARETTES, CRACK, EVERYTHING.

Reporter: CRACK?

YEAH.

Reporter: YOU SMELL CRACK?

YEAH, WHEN THEY'RE INSIDE THEIR ROOMS, YEAH.

YEAH, YOU CAN SMELL IT WHEN THEY'RE BURNING.

Reporter: THAT'S A CORPORATE HOTEL.

THAT'S A LOVELY PLACE TO STAY.

YEAH, LOOKS CAN BE VERY DECEIVING.

Reporter: SO ARE THE De BLASIO ADMINISTRATION'S HOMELESS STATS.

MAYOR De BLASIO POINTED OUT HIS ADMINISTRATION'S PREVENTATIVE EFFORTS HAVE STABILIZE THE HOMELESS POPULATION AT 57,900.

BUT HAS THE SITUATION REALLY IMPROVED?

BACK ON NOVEMBER 10th OF LAST YEAR, THE MAYOR'S OFFICE PROMOTED THEIR SELF-PROCLAIMED SUCCESS IN COMBATTING THE CRISIS, STATING THE SHELTERS CONSISTED OF 57,390 PEOPLE.

IN REALITY, IT HAS INCREASED.

FOR THE CHAIRMAN OF THE HOMELESS TASK FORCE, THE NUMBERS DO NOT ADD UP TO SUCCESS.

IT'S A REAL DISGRACE THAT YOU CAN'T TRUST THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO ADDRESSING THE PROBLEM.

Reporter: WHY IS THE ADMINISTRATION TOUTING IT THIS WAY?

BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THEY WANT PEOPLE TO KNOW THE TRUTH.

Reporter: THE CITY CONTINUES TO OVERPAY, USING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FOR HOTEL ROOMS.

FOR NEW YORK CITY'S CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER, THE CONCERNS HE EXPRESSED LAST FALL OVER A LACK OF ACCOUNTABILITY AND FINANCIAL MISMANAGEMENT ARE STILL WITH US.

HOW FRUSTRATING IS IT THAT VHS AND HRA ARE STILL LEAVING YOU AND YOUR OFFICE IN THE DARK IN TERMS OF BEING ABLE TO ACCURATELY ANALYZE HOW THOSE AGENCIES ARE SPENDING THE MONEY TO HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES?

WE ARE CONTINUING TO INVESTIGATE AND AUDIT THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELESS SERVICES.

WE WANT TO ANSWER EVERY QUESTION FOR THE PUBLIC AND FOR THE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, BECAUSE WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CITY IS SPENDING NOW THE $1.7 BILLION ON HOMELESS SERVICES IN THE BEST WAY POSSIBLE.

Reporter: EVEN ROBERT, THE HOMELESS FATHER IN JAMAICA QUEENS, SAYS TAXPAYERS ARE BEING FLEECED.

IT'S RIDICULOUS.

A TWO BEDROOM APARTMENT DOESN'T COST HALF AS MUCH.

Reporter: WE EACH DISCOVERED FAMILIES ARE ENDURING LONGER HOTEL STAYS.

WHAT THE FORMER COMMISSIONER GILBERT TAYLOR REFERRED TO LAST NOVEMBER AS SHORT-TERM TEN-DAY EMERGENCY STAYS HAS BALLOONED INTO 30, 90, AND NOW EVEN 120-DAY RESIDENCIES.

WHAT'S CHANGED IN THE LAST 90 DAYS?

NOTHING.

Reporter: THE CRISIS HAS GOTTEN SO OUT OF HAND, THE CITY IS RELYING ON NEW HOTELS TO FIND SHELTER FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES.

CITY RECORDS SHOW LAST FALL, THIS SUPER 8 IN THE BRONX, THE FIFTH HOMELESS HOTEL WE VISITED, WAS DESIGNATED TO HOUSE STRICTLY HOMELESS ADULTS.

BUT DURING OUR VISIT -- HOW MANY HOMELESS FAMILIES, ARE YOU TOTALLY BOOKED WITH THEM?

NO, NOT REALLY.

Reporter: THE FRONT DESK CLERK TOLD US THEY ARE NOW HOUSING HOMELESS FAMILIES.

AND REMEMBER, THE CITY'S CONTINUING RELIANCE ON HOTELS TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS IS A BLATANT CONTRADICTION TO WHAT THE MAYOR SAID AT THE MURDERS AT THE RAMADA.

STOP USING HOTELS, THAT IS THE GOAL.

Reporter: YOU MIGHT BE WONDERING IF THERE ARE ANY LEGAL ISSUES WITH THE De BLASIO'S ADMINISTRATION'S CONTINUED USE OF THESE HOTELS AND LACK OF SECURITY.

OUR INVESTIGATION FOUND A FEDERAL LAW ON THE BOOKS NOW FOR ALMOST TWO DECADES THAT BANS SEXUAL PREDATORS FROM LIVING IN PUBLIC HOUSING.

INSIDE NEW YORK PUBLIC HOUSING FACILITIES, THAT BAN ON SEXUAL PREDATORS IS, INDEED, IN PLACE.

JUST AS IMPORTANTLY, THE NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY COORDINATES WITH THE NYPD TO ENSURE A VISIBLE SECURITY PRESENCE WITH POLICE OFFICERS PATROLLING INSIDE AND OUTSIDE HOUSING DEVELOPMENTS.

THE BOTTOM LINE, THESE LIVING SPACES PROVIDED BY THE CITY OF NEW YORK, OFFER PROTECTION FOR THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE THERE.

THIS OVERALL LACK OF SECURITY AND HOTELS THAT HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES IS THE NEW NORM.

AND HIGHLIGHTS A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT MAYOR De BLASIO AND HIS TEAM SAYS ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THESE HOMELESS HOTELS AND WHAT WE HAVE SHOWN YOU FOR MONTHS.

THE RESULT, THIS CRISIS CONTINUALLY FLIES UNDER THE RADAR.

IS IT FAIR TO SAY THAT SOME IMPROVEMENT IN THAT AREA SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE IN THE MONTHS SINCE THOSE MURDERS?

WELL, THERE IS 24-HOUR SECURITY AT ALL SHELTERS.

Reporter: ALTHOUGH WE WERE ABLE TO WALK INTO HOMELESS HOTELS WITH NO SECURITY IN SIGHT AND GET UP TO FLOORS WHERE HOMELESS PARENTS AND CHILDREN ARE CURRENTLY STAYING, HRA AND HOMELESS SERVICES COMMISSIONER STEVEN BANKS STILL INSISTS THESE FACILITIES ARE SAFE.

KEEP IN MIND, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE HOMICIDES INSIDE THE CITY SHELTER SYSTEM DURING A RECENTLY LAUNCHED NYPD ASSESSMENT PERIOD.

THE CITY HAS ADDED NEW HOTELS TO THE LIST OF FACILITIES THAT HOUSE HOMELESS FAMILIES.

IN MANY CASES, THE SECURITY IS NOT JUST INADEQUATE, BUT NONEXISTENT.

SINCE WE'VE LAST SPOKEN, SEVERAL MONTHS HAVE PASSED.

WHY?

FIRST OF ALL, WE'VE ASKED THE POLICE DEPARTMENT TO DO A THOROUGH REVIEW OF SECURITY OF ALL OUR SHELTERS.

THEY'RE IN THE PROCESS OF DOING THAT AND WE'LL BE GUIDED BY WHAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT SAYS.

Reporter: THE POTENTIAL DANGER WAITING FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES IN HOTELS WAS NOT LOST ON THE SENIOR U.S. SENATOR FROM NEW YORK.

CHILDREN, AND I'M SURE PREDATORS KNOW THIS IS A PLACE TO GO.

Reporter: SENATOR SCHUMER SITS ON THE COMMITTEE OF BANKING, HOUSING, AND URBAN AFFAIRS.

HE EXPRESSED DEEP CONCERNS OVER THE WAY FAMILIES AND ADULTS ARE BEING HOUSED INSIDE OF HOTELS, ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF THAT 1980 FEDERAL LAW WHICH HE SUPPORTED, THAT BANNED SEXUAL PREDATORS FROM PUBLIC HOUSING.

IT IS AMAZING TO ME THAT THERE IS NO SECURITY THERE AT ALL.

IF THEY CAN WALK RIGHT IN, THE DAMAGE THEY CAN DO IS ENORMOUS.

NOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE CITY'S EXPLANATION IS.

BUT THEY OUGHT TO CHANGE IT AND FIX IT RIGHT AWAY.

THE HOTELS THEMSELVES ARE NOT GOOD PLACES FOR THE HOMELESS.

Reporter: BACK AT THE MOTOR INN IN QUEENS, ROBERT, WHO SAYS HE'S BEEN IN AND OUT OF HOMELESS HOTELS FOR 2 1/2 YEARS, DESCRIBES THIS AS A LIFE ON THE EDGE.

THESE HOTELS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SAFE FOR PEOPLE.

AND THAT JUST GOES TO SHOW IT'S NOT.

JOINING ME NOW, MARIO DIAZ AND JAY DOWD.

THAT WAS SOME POWERFUL STUFF, GENTLEMEN.

HOW DID YOU EVEN BECOME AWARE OF THE HOMELESS HOTELS AND THE WAY THE CITY WAS USING THEM?

LAST AUTUMN, I BEGAN OUR ON THE STREETS REPORTING ON THIS TOPIC.

AFTER MONTHS OF DOING RESEARCH, WE ENDED UP FOCUSING ON EDUCATION AND FAMILIES.

WHEN WE SHOWED UP TO THE SCHOOL, WE THEN WERE TIPPED OFF AS TO THE REALITY OF THE HOMELESS PROBLEM THAT NOT MANY PEOPLE TRULY UNDERSTOOD IN TERMS OF THE WAY THE CITY WAS HANDLING IT.

THERE WAS A PARENT COORDINATOR TOLD US SHE WAS DEALING WITH A FAMILY STAYING ON STATEN ISLAND.

WE THEN FOUND THIS HOLIDAY INN HOUSED WITH HOMELESS FAMILIES, DOZENS OF THEM.

SO THE HOTEL WITH THE FAMILY WAS IN STATEN ISLAND?

AND AS A RESULT, THE CHILD WAS MISSING SCHOOL QUITE FREQUENTLY.

THEY WERE LUCKY TO GET TO THE SCHOOL TWO DAYS A WEEK.

THE REALITY IS, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT GRIPS SO MANY CHILDREN RIGHT NOW WHO ARE BEING -- SEEING THEIR EDUCATION PARALYZED IS THAT WHEN YOU'RE IN A HOMELESS SITUATION AND YOU MOVE FROM SHELTER TO SHELTER, MEANS YOU'RE PROBABLY MOVING FROM A DIFFERENT SCHOOL TO A DIFFERENT SCHOOL.

YOU MOVE ONCE, IT SETS YOU BACK SIX MONTHS, MOVE AGAIN AND IT'S A YEAR.

YOU LOOK AT CHILDREN THAT ARE BEING SET BACK EDUCATIONALLY BECAUSE THEY'RE IN A SITUATION THAT HAS NO RESOLVE BEEN THE CITY, WHEN WE'RE SEEING RECORD NUMBERS OUT THERE IN THE PAST YEAR.

TELL ME HOW IS IT THAT THESE FAMILIES COME TO LIVE IN THESE HOTELS?

AGAIN, EMERGENCIES IS WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE LIKE, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE PEOPLE ARE BEING SET UP TO LIVE THERE.

HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN?

THIS IS THE WAY OF LIFE FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES.

THEY ARE ASSIGNED TO A HOTEL THE CITY CHOOSES.

SO WORKER AT THE PATH CENTER IN THE SOUTH BRONX WILL SAY THIS IS WHERE WE'RE GOING TO PLACE YOU.

OFTEN THERE IS NO CONSIDERATION FOR WHERE THE CHILD IS ENROLLED IN SCHOOL.

SO IF THE CHILD HAS BEEN GOING TO SCHOOL ON THE LOWER EAST SIDE, IT'S THE PARENT'S RESPONSIBILITY TO GET THAT CHILD TO SCHOOL EVERY SINGLE DAY.

WE HAVE FOUND THAT THERE ARE OFTEN NO SOCIAL SERVICES AT THESE HOTELS.

SO FAMILIES ARE JUST ESSENTIALLY WAREHOUSED.

A AND THEY SPEND MOST OF THEIR TIME TRYING TO FIND A JOB AND KEEP A JOB.

AREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO HAVE SOMEBODY STATIONED AT THESE HOTELS TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES?

THEY DO HAVE A REPRESENTATIVE AT SOME OF THE HOTELS WE REACHED OUT TO.

THE SPECIFIC ONES, WE DID ASK, DO YOU HAVE A DHS OFFICE, SO THEY DID HAVE A PRESENCE.

WHAT YOU DIDN'T SEE IS THIS SECURITY COMPONENT THAT THE MAYOR SAID THEY'RE GOING TO ENHANCE SECURITY AS A RESULT OF THE TRAGEDY THAT TOOK PLACE FEBRUARY 10th.

WHAT WAS SO STRIKING TO US IS THAT WE THOUGHT THERE WAS GOING TO BE MAYBE ONE -- A HANDFUL OF HOTELS.

BUT WHEN YOU START REALIZING THIS IS AN ENTIRE SYNDICATE OF HOTELS BEINGOUT RISED BY THE CITY AT A COST OF $3 MILLION THAT WAS SPENT JUST TO HOUSE FAMILIES INSIDE OF HOTELS, WE REALIZED THIS IS A MUCH BIGGER SITUATION THAT THE PUBLIC HAS NO IDEA IT'S GOING ON.

IT JUST SOUNDS LIKE -- IT SPEAKS TO THE NEED FOR MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN NEW YORK AND THIS SEEMS TO BE THE STOP GAP THAT SEEMS TO BE HOLDING THE FINGER IN THE DAM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT FOR RIGHT NOW.

THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS.

WE SHOULD NOT LOSE -- THESE ARE TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND THE FAMILIES ARE BEING WAREHOUSED HERE, BECAUSE THERE ASK NO OTHER SOLUTION.

THE OBVIOUS ANSWER IS MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

FOR A LOT OF FAMILIES, THEY'RE MAKING JUST ENOUGH TO SURVIVE BUT NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE THAT LEAP INTO AN APARTMENT THAT THEY CAN AFFORD.

SO ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE, WHEN THEY THINK ABOUT HOMELESSNESS IS IF YOU JUST GET A JOB, IF YOU JUST START WORKING, YOU CAN FIX THIS YOURSELF.

HOW MANY FAMILIES DID YOU FIND WORKING?

SOME OF THE PEOPLE WE CAME ACROSS WERE AT FULL-TIME JOBS AND FOUND THEMSELVES IN THIS SITUATION.

THERE'S NO DOUBT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN THE CITY THAT WE LIVE IN, AND THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS IS MORE COMMON NOW BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE A HIGH COST.

YOU'RE SEEING THIS IN SAN FRANCISCO AND OTHER PLACES.

THEY'RE ALL ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS DIFFERENTLY.

EVERYONE TALKED ABOUT THE HOMELESS HOTELS.

THEY'RE SHOCKED BECAUSE YOU JUST DON'T SEE IT.

AND YES, TO ANSWER YOUR ORIGINAL PORTION OF THIS QUESTION, THERE WERE MANY FAMILIES THAT ARE WORKING OUT THERE, THAT WANT TO GET AHEAD.

THEY'RE DOING EVERYTHING THEY CAN TO GET AHEAD.

IT'S JUST NOT HAPPENING FOR THEM.

ABOUT 20% OF THAT POPULATION IS OUT THERE WORKING FULL TIME.

AND FOR EVERY FAMILY THAT IS WORKING, THERE ARE SO MANY OTHERS WHOSE FULL-TIME JOB IS STAYING IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.

YOU GET A NOTICE THAT SAYS YOU NEED TO REPORT TO THE TASK CENTER IN THE SOUTH BRONX TO MAINTAIN YOUR SERVICES IN THE HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.

YOU HAVE TO SKIP WHATEVER SHIFT YOU HAVE COMING UP.

YOU HAVE TO GET YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL.

I CAN'T TELL YOU HOW MANY TIMES WE'VE BEEN UP THERE AND THERE ARE HOMELESS FAMILIES DRAGGING EVERY ONE OF THEIR BELONGINGS BEHIND THEM, BECAUSE THE HOTEL THEY WERE STAYING AT, THE RESIDENCY ENDED THERE.

IN ORDER TO GET ANOTHER STINT IN A HOTEL, THEY HAD TO BRING EVERYTHING THEY OWNED BACK UP TO THE CENTER IN THE BRONX AND FIND OUT WHERE THEY'RE GOING TO BE HELD NEXT.

WOW.

WHEN YOU'RE OUT ON THE STREETS, WHETHER YOU'RE A SINGLE ADULT OR A FAMILY, WHERE AM I GOING TO SLEEP TONIGHT?

IF THEY FIND THEMSELVES IN A SITUATION LIKE IN ONE OF THESE HOTELS -- THE CITY WAS ONLY RELYING ON THIS FOR EMERGENCY PURPOSES.

NOW WE'RE FINDING FAMILIES INSIDE THESE HOTELS FOR 120 DAYS.

AND A LOT OF THEM ARE COMPOUNDS WHERE YOU HAVE OTHER HOTELS AROUND THEM.

SO IT CAN DRAW ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE IN THESE AREAS.

YEAH.

AND WE ARE NEW YORK CITY.

ONE OF THE TOP INDUSTRIES HERE IS TOURISM.

MORE THAN 50 MILLION PEOPLE COME TO THIS CITY EVERY SINGLE YEAR.

AND AS THE MAYOR'S ENHANCED SAFETY PROTOCOL AT THESE HOTELS, A LOT OF THESE PEOPLE STAYING AT THE RAMADA HAD NO IDEA THEY WERE HOUSING HOMELESS THERE THE DAY OF THAT MURDER.

THIS IS AN ISSUE OF SAFETY, NOT ABOUT WHO IS STAYING IN THE HOTELS BUT THE CRIMES THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE THERE.

SO IF YOU'RE BOOKING YOUR VACATION AT HOME, YOU MAY NOT HAVE ANY CLUE THAT YOU'RE ABOUT TO BOOK YOUR FAMILY A STAY IN A HOTEL THAT HAS HAD A SERIOUS CRIME TAKEN PLACE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS OR SOMETHING THAT MIGHT HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE, GOD FORBID, WHEN YOU'RE THERE.

ONE HOTEL LIKES TO PORTRAY ITSELF AS A HOTEL THAT HOUSES FAMILIES FROM A YANKEES GAME.

REALLY?

THAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE PROBABLY HAD NO IDEA.

VERY QUICKLY, JUST ONE MORE QUESTION BEFORE WE'RE DONE.

WATCHING THE DOCUMENTARY, WE SAW MOSTLY YOU'RE SPEAKING WITH FAMILIES OF COLOR.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSOCIATION WHEN THEY THINK OF HOMELESS FAMILIES.

IS THAT INDICATIVE OF HOMELESSNESS IN NEW YORK?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE MET AN INTERRACIAL COUPLE BEFORE CHRISTMAS, A YOUNG GENTLEMAN, HE'S WHITE FROM OHIO AND HE'S HOMELESS.

AND HE HAS A JOB.

HE'S A WAITER AT A RESTAURANT HERE IN NEW YORK CITY.

AND HE IS SMART.

HE WANTS OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

HE'S NOT SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SERVICES THAT THE CITY OFFERS.

HE'S TRYING TO GET A LEG UP AND HE CAN'T SEEM TO MAKE THAT NEXT STEP TO GET OUT OF THE HOMELESS SERVICES SYSTEM.

AND HE IS LIKE SO MANY OTHER FAMILIES WHERE IT'S NOT JUST PEOPLE OF COLOR.

THIS IS A CLASS ISSUE.

THIS IS A SOCIETAL ISSUE.

THIS IS NOT JUST A RACIAL ISSUE.

OKAY.

LISTEN, THANK YOU BOTH SO UP MANY FOR YOUR WORK AND JOINING US HERE AT 'METROFOCUS.'

APPRECIATE IT.

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