New Report: NYC Should Dedicate 10,000 Units of Supportive Housing to Seriously Mentally Ill Homeless

Mayor de Blasio should not allow mission creep to cause the city to fail one of its most vulnerable populations

NEW YORK, NY — Mayor Bill de Blasio’s $2.6 billion plan to build 15,000 new supportive housing units is in danger of failing one of its integral goals: serving New York City’s homeless who suffer from severe mental illness. In a new Manhattan Institute report, senior fellow Stephen Eide argues for a renewed focus on the seriously mentally ill, recommending that two-thirds of the city’s new supportive housing stock be dedicated to this vulnerable population.

When the city first began its broad effort at building supportive housing—permanent housing plus services—in the 1990s, the purpose was to assist the seriously mentally ill homeless. By taking the place of more expensive government services, supportive housing both saved the city money and helped those most in need. The perceived success of these programs, however, led advocates to recommend they serve more populations, including those recovering from substance abuse and youth aging out of foster homes, where supportive housing has proved less cost-effective. This siphons vital resources away from homeless people with serious mental illnesses.

In this new report, Eide makes a compelling case that the de Blasio administration should refocus supportive housing on people with serious mental illness, while allowing space for other vulnerable populations. While all of these groups deserve assistance, New York should never be in a position where it needs to house a seriously mentally ill individual and does not have a unit for them. Dedicating 10,000 of the new supportive housing units—two-thirds of the total—ensures they continue to be afforded one of the best options for stabilizing their lives.

Click here to read the full report.