NYC homeless to be charged rent

In accordance with a 1997 state law, seldom enforced, New York City will begin charging rent to persons in homeless shelters who work. The law enables public shelters to charge up to 50 per cent of one’s total family income in rent. It is much in line with the Federal Section 8 housing agreements, where ‘patrons’ of shelters must pay a fair rate. It also entitles New York City to funding from the state for housing aid, $2.4 million dollars of which the City had to return in 2007 because it did not enforce the law.


In a city with astronomical housing prices and a failing economic and jobs market, is it really fair to hit the working homeless with rent charges? It smacks of negative reinforcement: get a job and we will charge you rent...stay unemployed and live rent free. The working homeless are those who are trying to contribute back to society and are making the necessary strides to begin their lives again. Fifty per cent is well above what most would consider an acceptable percentage of income to pay towards rent (which typically stands at 35 per cent maximum). For a family bringing in $800 a month, $400 in rent is absurd. Add this to other costs just to stay alive, not to mention increasing transit costs due to the incompetence of the MTA, and you have a recipe for disaster. There is no incentive to be homeless and work. Perhaps they should take Mayor Mike up on his offer for that one-way plane ticket back home.