Norwood News

I would like to thank the Norwood News for their tremendous coverage of the cluster-site housing for homeless families (article, editorial in March 5 – 18 issue) in two local private apartment buildings funded by the Department of Homeless Services (DHS). 

However, I would like to make an important distinction that was lost in the your editorial when you wrote, “Is it really fair to impose this environment on regular tenants who did not sign up to live in what is essentially a supportive housing facility?” [Emphasis added.] DHS’ cluster-site housing model couldn’t be further from supportive housing. 

Supportive housing is not a facility, but rather permanent affordable apartments with on-site services, including case management, mental health services, substance abuse counseling, and employment programs, to homeless, disabled and at-risk New Yorkers. Supportive housing apartment buildings are often the most beautiful buildings in the neighborhood and they provide housing stability to our most vulnerable neighbors without attracting the notice of even longtime neighbors. A recent study by NYU found that the values of properties near supportive housing buildings actually go up after residences open.

Most supportive housing buildings also offer units to low-income members of the community. Of the 1,842 units of supportive housing built in the Bronx since 2000, 424 units (or 23 percent) have been set aside for low-income community residents. If they choose, these tenants can use supportive services offered in the building (from child care to case management to counseling); or tenants can enjoy a permanent affordable apartment any of us would be happy to call home.

Supportive housing is a permanent answer that costs only a fraction of the money spent on cluster-site housing. While the city is reimbursing Aguila $90 a day for cluster-site apartments, permanent supportive housing costs $68.50 a day or less to keep the most vulnerable families safely and stably housed. The lack of supportive housing and other permanent solutions to family homelessness force the city and state to spend scarce resources on expensive emergency shelter. And because shelter does not address the underlying cause of family homelessness – lack of appropriate, affordable housing – these costs extend in perpetuity.

With cluster-sites having been brought to our attention, community leaders, elected officials, government agencies, non-profit homeless service and housing providers, and residents should come together to share ideas in an effort to create a more effective policy. While the vast majority of homeless families just need a Section 8 voucher and linkages to existing community services in an unclustered setting, supportive housing is an important part of the solution for some homeless families with significant service needs.

-Nicholas Napolitano

The author is a Norwood resident and policy associate for the Supportive Housing Network of New York, a member agency for supportive housing providers in New York State. The views expressed in this letter are his own and do not necessarily represent the views of the Network.