On Thursday, September 24th, the Marlene Meyerson JCC hosted a panel on homelessness and housing policies as part of their “Justice in Action” virtual conversation series. The series highlights “the challenges and opportunities of this unique moment in New York City focusing on how justice issues are being impacted and amplified by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and what each of us can do to create positive change from within our own homes.”
Urban Pathways’ Director of Policy Nicole McVinua joined NYC Council Member Brad Lander, JCC’s Social Justice Activist-in-Residence Ruth Messinger, and Project Renewal CEO Eric Rosenbaum to discuss the challenges faced by homeless services providers in NYC, the impact of COVID-19, and the ways in which the government could step in to provide aid. With so much discourse across the City about the location of shelters and temporary housing accommodations, Nicole emphasized the right of people experiencing homelessness to remain in communities where they are comfortable and may have a network- from friends and relatives to doctors and therapists- that can provide support. This can only possible when homeless services and supportive housing are available in all areas of the City. Panelists agreed that the pandemic has revealed the critical need for more affordable housing and creative solutions in NYC to ensure greater access to permanent housing.
Thank you to the Marlene Meyerson JCC for hosting this important conversation!
