Mayor Bill de blasio set to outline a multi-faceted plan to combat the city’s unprecedented rise in homelessness today. The plan includes a rent-subsidy plan for those living in shelters that would cost $80 million - the de Blasio administration plans to ask the state for $40 million to fund the program. More than 53,000 people sleep in city homeless shelters, including 23,000 children. The program would target families that have been in the shelter system for more than a year with a member who has been working a job for a period of months. The plan would help about 800 families annually, with the subsidy initially lasting three years and an option to renew for two more years. The plan aims to subsidize housing for far fewer families compared to the former Advantage subsidy plan that was cancelled in 2012 after the state cut off funding - but, it is designed to provide subsidies to each participating family for longer than Advantage did. In its last year of operation the Advantage program helped 5,000 families leave the shelter system for an apartment, but many argue that the subsidy was provided for too short a time.
New From Gotham Gazette
The Week Ahead in New York Politics
Gotham Gazette's weekly preview of key issues and events for the week upon us. See details about the mayor's schedule, city council hearings, advocacy events, and more.
Everything Dot NYC
A deep dive into the issue of .nyc website domain names, which are just becoming available through the City and a third-party provider. The planning has been going on for quite some time as outlined by the Bloomberg administration and the .nyc domain names are now being sold in the first phase of a multi-phase rollout. Read all about it.
Brian Lehrer Reflects on September 11, 2001 [video]
In one part of a Gotham Gazette video interview with the iconic WNYC radio host, Lehrer reflects on 9/11/01 and its aftermath, including his role as a companion to New Yorkers going through one of the toughest periods in the city's history. (Our full interview with Lehrer, during which he reflects on his career, including 25 years at WNYC, will be published soon.)
Other Stories We're Following
Source: Former City Comptroller John Liu to Challenge Sen. Tony Avella(Daily News)
Insiders Blast Former Moreland Chair For Use of Campaign Funds (Daily News)
De Blasio Suspends Troubled 911 Upgrade Project (Daily News)
Killings Surge in North Bronx (NY Times)
Workers at NYU's Abu Dhabi Site Faced Harsh Conditions (NY Times)
Review of Proposed Time Warner-Comcast Merger Begins (NY Post)
Bloomberg Would Run For President if He Thought He Could Win (Daily News)
Bruno Wants State to Reimburse Legal Expenses (NY Post)
GOP Looks to Break 20-Year Drought (Crain's)
