City program for homeless is criticized, By Javier C. Hernandez, August 8, 2010, New York Times: “It was envisioned as a way to help more homeless families leave shelters behind for good. But a signature anti-poverty program of the Bloomberg administration is stumbling because of lax oversight, according to an audit by the city comptroller, John C. Liu. The report, to be released Monday, criticizes the Department of Homeless Services for its management of Advantage, a program that provides housing subsidies to homeless people who find stable jobs and leave shelters. Under the department’s watch, the report said, landlords have pressured tenants into illegal side deals, with some residents paying up to $400 extra a month. In addition, the audit charged, the department did not adequately investigate the quality of apartments, potentially placing some families in buildings where leaks, faulty wiring and rodents were prevalent…”
Poverty-related issues in the news, from the Institute for Research on Poverty