The foundation of the new policy is that New York state will be able to authorize first responders to forcibly hospitalize mentally ill New Yorkers who cannot meet their own basic needs such as food, shelter or medical care.

  • FreedomAdvocate
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    1
    arrow-down
    5
    ·
    21 hours ago

    So what housing are they being given for free? There an overabundance of free government owned houses just sitting around in NYC to put severely mentally ill homeless people in?

    Putting them in an institution until they get better is providing housing and services btw.

    • Michael@slrpnk.net
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      2
      ·
      edit-2
      21 hours ago

      This is for the state of New York, which is a large area that encompasses more than just New York City. In 2022, there were over 1 million vacant houses just in the state of New York. Affordable housing and the lack thereof is a crisis. It must be rectified for a healthy society to thrive.

      As for New York City, apartment buildings could be constructed or individuals could be relocated.

      As of January 2024, there were approximately 158,019 homeless individuals in New York State, with the majority located in New York City. This number reflects a significant increase in homelessness, driven by factors such as a lack of affordable housing and an influx of asylum seekers.

      As of January 2025, it is estimated that over 350,000 people are homeless in New York City

      If there are over a MILLION vacant houses, and 350k (or slighty more) homeless people, what the fuck are we doing?

      • FreedomAdvocate
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        1
        arrow-down
        4
        ·
        21 hours ago

        In 2022, there were over 1 million vacant houses just in the state of New York.

        Vacant does not mean government owned. Homeowners can do whatever they want with their homes, including leaving them vacant. So again, what free housing would be used to house all these people? Also the way you describe this, it would be ripe for abuse by people who just want a free house wouldn’t it? Just don’t pay your rent and get taken away to be given a free house and food and all your bills paid!

        If there are over a MILLION vacant houses, and 350k (or slighty more) homeless people, what the fuck are we doing?

        See above.

        • Michael@slrpnk.net
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          3
          ·
          edit-2
          21 hours ago

          The state of New York could buy these homes and use them to re-home individuals placed into them or repurpose them. Or build new, affordable housing.

          Just don’t pay your rent and get taken away to be given a free house and food and all your bills paid!

          Are you seriously arguing for renting and no social safety net? If rent was affordable and fair, it’d be another story.

          • FreedomAdvocate
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            1
            arrow-down
            4
            ·
            21 hours ago

            The state of New York could buy these homes and use them to re-home individuals placed into them or repurpose them.

            Sure, if the people that own them wanted to sell them.

            Or build new, affordable housing.

            But many of these people couldn’t afford “affordable housing”, so it would need to be free. Food would need to be free, electricity would need to be free, water, internet, etc would all need to be free (for them, but paid for by taxpayers). Also where is the new affordable housing being built, and who is paying for it?

            Are you seriously arguing for renting and no social safety net?

            Huh? The point was that using YOUR scenario, people could easily abuse the system to simply get free housing/food/etc by missing a rent payment and getting taken away and given a free house/food/etc.

            • Michael@slrpnk.net
              link
              fedilink
              English
              arrow-up
              3
              ·
              edit-2
              21 hours ago

              But many of these people couldn’t afford “affordable housing”, so it would need to be free. Food would need to be free, electricity would need to be free, water, internet, etc would all need to be free (for them, but paid for by taxpayers). Also where is the new affordable housing being built, and who is paying for it?

              That would be up for the state of New York to determine. Housing is a right, whether or not the laws have caught up. Food is a right and so is water. Electricity isn’t a luxury. If they could afford the housing at a later date, their eligibility for things being “free” should be re-evaluated.

              Perhaps the many corporations and billionaires that dodge taxes could pay for it. Perhaps the federal government could stop spending trillions on war out of US taxpayer money and provide homes for homeless and vulnerable individuals? Perhaps, if we allow these individuals to feel safe and heal, without punishing them criminally or otherwise traumatizing them, they would later offset the expenses spent to better them.

              Huh? The point was that using YOUR scenario, people could easily abuse the system to simply get free housing/food/etc by missing a rent payment and getting taken away and given a free house/food/etc.

              You aren’t abusing the system by needing a house. If we’re talking free or affordable housing, again, there is a crisis, and it should be provided to individuals.

              • FreedomAdvocate
                link
                fedilink
                English
                arrow-up
                1
                arrow-down
                5
                ·
                21 hours ago

                Ok so your entire argument hinges on the complete overhaul of society. Gotcha. I’m out.

                • Michael@slrpnk.net
                  link
                  fedilink
                  English
                  arrow-up
                  4
                  arrow-down
                  1
                  ·
                  edit-2
                  21 hours ago

                  I want to live in a kind and free world. Sorry you feel differently.

                  • FreedomAdvocate
                    link
                    fedilink
                    English
                    arrow-up
                    1
                    arrow-down
                    3
                    ·
                    20 hours ago

                    So do I, but that’s not the world we live in and it’s not helpful to say that your utopia society ways are reasons why this isn’t better than what we currently have.