A homeless person sleeping in the West 60’s on Broadway last fall.
By Jessica Brockington
A police official with the 20th precinct has reported some success at convincing homeless people to find shelter amid the cold temperatures.
Working with Goddard Riverside, they were able to help Broadway Joe, who often slept in the doorway of Victoria’s Secret near 85th Street, and Josey, known to sleep in the area around 72nd Street and Broadway, transition to a longterm shelter on the Lower East Side, according to Special Operations Lieutenant Eileen Lazarus.
Lazarus also said in an interview a few weeks ago that the community has expressed concern for homeless people living in the streets with their dogs.
The couple with the dog who had been sleeping in front of the movie theater on Broadway and 68th Street, went to New Jersey, Lt. Lazarus said.
They present a harder case since NYC shelters will not accept dogs.
“These dogs are registered. They have tags. They’re healthy. And people don’t want to give up their dogs. It creates a predicament we are trying to find solutions for,” Lt. Lazarus added.
Churches in the area have written to the Precinct to urge the police to treat church steps as safe havens for individuals needing shelter for the night.
The precinct continues to do homeless operations all hours of the day and night, and then work with service providers to find placement and help for people, Lt. Lazarus said.
Having spent years working with these poor people, we should stop pretending that they are simply unable to find affordable housing in NYC. Let’s lose the PC “homeless” moniker. They are mentally ill and need appropriate services, observation, and, many times, long term institutionalization for both their safety and ours.
I feel bad for these dogs. It is always sad to see a dog tethered to a homeless person.
I always find it interesting that the churches who want their neighbors to have compassion toward the mentally ill people passed out (or getting high, or fighting) on their steps won’t let them sleep inside. If you want to help them so much, you should take them in.
It always makes me sad too, though I always notice that the dogs almost always look well fed and loved. I can’t understand why the city is so far behind in coming up with a shelter solution where people can take their pets. It’s a horrible choice to have to pick between staying on the street in the cold with your dog, or sending your dog to animal control where it will likely perish.
just wondering… you don’t feel bad for the people?
Churches already have enough problems with declining membership and attendance.
I guess having homeless people living in the church is probably not an incentive to having families attend services.
I feel for the dogs as they have had zero choice in their circumstances. The homeless/ill/addicts have had varying degrees of choice in whether they are sleeping outside in cold weather or not (obviously a person in the throes of a severe mental illness is not making a bad choice and imho it’s too bad we can’t do more to help take that “choice” off their shoulders and get them into permanent supportive situations).
You think the police department would put something out that goes against what the DeBlasio administration says?
I don’t think so…
Often the churches and synagogues do offer shelter for the homeless. They provide other services as well. You can’t just come in without providing beds, blankets, care givers, security, appropriate space. This all costs additional money. MONEY. MONEY. Money is needed for the “homeless” to have housing, medical care, mental health care, food, salaries for the workers, and clothing. This is not just a “problem.” It requires the finances and private and public resources to offer solutions. There is not just one answer. There are diverse populations – teenagers, elderly, addicts, mentally impaired, physically ill, etc.
There are several homeless people at my corner who sleep on the street gratings that give off steam and keep them warm. I chat with both of them from time to time and they say that they want no part of the shelters. They feel safer in the street. One has a dog who he treats so well. The one with the dog has managed to get himself to a warmer climate for the winter. Good for him!
As of last night (2/26) “Broadway Joe” (who I believe his real name is “Angel”) was back in location in front of Victoria’s Secret, but he did have different clothes and was not enwrapped in the torn blanket.
I don’t understand and it infuriates me that nyc has become the repository for people dissatisfied with their own cities/states…so never having lived here before …suddenly they become “homeless” here.
Especially these silly teens who come in from Scarsdale and stand in front of Trader Joe’s with a sign as if this is their first job. Do not fall victim to this. We are as dumb as they are smart and deceptive. And the kids with dogs!!!! What a hoax. A complete rip-off-something out of Charles Dickens. They tally up at day’s end and get back on metronorth to go home.
The truly ill and homeless need a place to stay,warm food, and kindness …let’s help them.
Sadly, for the couple and especially the dog, they were back on Broadway and 68th St yesterday, (Saturday 2/27).