DHS Administrator Jocelyn Carter and Commissioner Molly Wasow Park described the agency's approach to unsheltered homelessness, the subway safety plan, and a new pilot intended to improve shelter-to-housing outcomes.

Metrics and beds: DHS said it tracks three primary metrics for unsheltered engagement: outreach touchpoints, placements into transitional or low-barrier beds, and permanent housing placements. Commissioner Park noted that the Adams administration announced 900 new low-barrier beds in its State of the City speech and that DHS expects a total of roughly 4,900 safe-haven and stabilization beds once the pipeline completes.

Subway safety work and outcomes: DHS reported data for FY24 and early FY25. Agency staff told the Council that in FY24 outreach referrals totaled about 13,578 and shelter placements from subway outreach were about 3,614. DHS said outreach and low-barrier beds have placed thousands into shelter and permanent housing since 2022 and have connected more than 8,500 New Yorkers to shelter since the start of the subway safety plan in February 2022.

Enhanced Client Placement Support pilot: DHS Administrator Carter described a July pilot that would strengthen steps providers must take before discontinuing shelter residents for noncompliance. The pilot emphasizes provider accountability and training, incremental sanctions, case conferences and suitability assessments before any discontinuance. DHS officials said the program is designed to move people toward permanence and "is not to put people on the street," Carter said.

Council concerns: Members asked whether the 19 pilot sites were adequately staffed; DHS said it is assessing staffing and training and will not proceed to discontinuances at sites that lack capacity. Council members also sought detail on outreach allocations by neighborhood and on involuntary removal and commitment practices following a change in state law. DHS said clinicians (nurses) are the licensed staff who make involuntary removal determinations and provided a tally of 248 involuntary removals in FY24; DHS said it would provide year-to-date numbers for FY25.

Community engagement and siting: On shelter siting and conversions, DHS said community engagement follows procurement, with community notification and advisory board meetings after a site is selected. The agency said it is prioritizing exits to permanent housing and is trying to reduce hotel reliance and overall shelter costs via conversions and new shelter models.

Ending: Council asked for follow-up on detailed placement and outreach numbers for specific neighborhoods and for site-level readiness assessments for pilot program sites.