The Enemy of the Good

There’s a phrase I like to use, “Don’t let the great be the enemy of the good.” It means that sometimes a not ideal solution is better than no solution while you’re looking for the perfect solution. The City of New York has recently banned sleeping at overnight drop-in centers for homeless and runaway youth. This decision has left unhoused youth and providers in chaos, especially since the number of young people using these centers has surged. The drop-in centers are legally not meant to serve as overnight shelters. Since they don’t meet these requirements, the city government is clamping down on the centers that allow youth to stay overnight.

At City Relief, we believe that everyone deserves a safe place to rest, especially those who are most vulnerable. This ban deeply impacts the lives of the young people who rely on these centers as their only indoor option. Drop-in centers serve as a lifeline for young people who have nowhere else to go, providing them with food, laundry, education, and career services from people that care for them, as well as a place to rest during the day.

My concern about this ban is that I believe it goes against the fundamental right to rest and safety. As human beings, we all need a safe and secure place to sleep at night. The fact that young people are now spending their nights on trains and in abandoned buildings seems like no solution instead of a temporary imperfect solution until a better one can be created.

At City Relief, we are committed to providing solutions to this issue by connecting youth experiencing homelessness to resources like temporary hotel stays, connections to city and state benefits, and when appropriate, reconnection to family. We believe that everyone deserves access to the basic necessities of life and a helping hand.

We need your support to provide resources like these to the most vulnerable who need it most. Your financial generosity can help us ensure access to basic needs for those who are experiencing homelessness, including housing, food, and clothing.

Join us to provide a safe place for everyone to rest. Together, we can end homelessness.

Sincerely,

Josiah Haken