While the freezing cold has fallen on the megalopolis, a handful of homeless people try to warm up in the heart of Times Square in front of a small trailer where they offer a little tea and coffee. Located next to the department stores with the most scintillating signs, this little oasis of simplicity contrasts in the decor riddled with giant screens where garishly colored advertisements parade.
Among those comforted for the day was Angel, a US Army veteran who has lived on the streets for 10 years with mental health issues.
His point is not always clear, but as soon as he is asked what he thinks of New York Mayor Eric Adams’ plan to hospitalize homeless people like him who are in health crisis without their consent mental, it ignites.
We have rights in this country, we can go where we want. We need more support in the streets, more people to talk to us in the streets. This mental support is needed to keep us busy here
he said, pointing to the top of his head.
Many, like Angel, denounce this measure which now gives the police full latitude to arrest homeless people in crisis and hospitalize them by force.
The goal, according to the mayor of the largest American city with almost nine million citizens, is to focus on this small group of homeless people, give them the care they need and not wait until they do something dangerous against themselves or others.
Other more logical solutions
A few blocks from Times Square, in the neighborhood Hell’s Kitchenthe non-profit organization Fountain House welcomes hundreds of homeless people with mental health problems every year. The place looks like a leisure club for wealthy members.
In the multi-storey building, there is a large community kitchen as well as large lounges, libraries, large offices and meeting rooms. We are very far from the image of these dilapidated reception centers with minimal services. Here, the homeless who use the infrastructure are not patients, but full members of this vast club.
Melanie Forman, specialist in the programs offered in this organization, justifies this more human approach. We focus on the social design of the premises so that it is not a place where people feel institutionalized, but is their community, what they want to see. It is centered on a way of social rehabilitation.
This is precisely what attracted Saverio to Fountain House : At first I didn’t want to come and then I started frequenting this place and that’s when I realized it was a cool place. Now I like working here and meeting other people like me.
Today, like many others, he works and earns a salary that allows him to be part of this club like no other.
When she learned what the mayor of New York wanted to do to homeless people in mental health crisis, her blood boiled: Personally, I was very upset by the lack of consideration and consultation from social workers, mental health service providers and hospitals.
« It felt a bit irresponsible to me, as if they started this initiative to possibly hide people who are homeless and suffer from mental health issues. »
A flood of criticism
Sandy Brower is one of those referred to here as members of Fountain House. In the past, she has been plagued by mental distress. While having suicidal thoughts, she called the 988 helpline, who then sent the police to her, when it was not what she needed.
The idea that she could face forced hospitalization, as advocated by the mayor of New York, frightens her. He’s a hypocrite because now he wants to lock people up and he thinks they’re going to be overmedicated afterwards. It may not be good for them. I was in this situation and it was terrible. I had hallucinations.
Faced with this barrage of criticism, Eric Adams defended himself recently on the airwaves of the Fox network.
police et je pense qu'une partie de la distorsion dans les médias est vraiment injuste pour les New-Yorkais. Il s'agit d'un petit groupe spécifique de personnes qui ne peuvent pas prendre soin de leurs besoins fondamentaux et qui sont mentalement aux prises avec des maladies mentales au point d'être un danger pour eux-mêmes et pour les autres.","text":"Tout d'abord, ce n'est pas un plan dirigé par la police et je pense qu'une partie de la distorsion dans les médias est vraiment injuste pour les New-Yorkais. Il s'agit d'un petit groupe spécifique de personnes qui ne peuvent pas prendre soin de leurs besoins fondamentaux et qui sont mentalement aux prises avec des maladies mentales au point d'être un danger pour eux-mêmes et pour les autres."">First of all, this is not a police-led plan and I think some of the distortion in the media is really unfair to New Yorkers. This is a specific small group of people who cannot take care of their basic needs and who struggle with mental illnesses to the point of being a danger to themselves and others.
Nothing to stop the reprobation of stakeholders in the field like Harvey Rosenthal, director general of the New York Association of psychiatric rehabilitation services.
New York se plaint qu’on ne comprenne pas ses intentions. Pourtant, il y a tellement de meilleures idées existantes à suivre, comme plus de logements sociaux ou des unités de stabilisation de crise avec soutien par les pairs. L’approche du maire va à l’encontre de tout ça. Il se concentre sur l'hôpital. Or, si les gens ont besoin de nourriture, d'un abri et de vêtements, ce n’est certainement pas le meilleur endroit pour obtenir cela.","text":"Le maire de New York se plaint qu’on ne comprenne pas ses intentions. Pourtant, il y a tellement de meilleures idées existantes à suivre, comme plus de logements sociaux ou des unités de stabilisation de crise avec soutien par les pairs. L’approche du maire va à l’encontre de tout ça. Il se concentre sur l'hôpital. Or, si les gens ont besoin de nourriture, d'un abri et de vêtements, ce n’est certainement pas le meilleur endroit pour obtenir cela."">The mayor of New York complains that we don’t understand his intentions. Yet there are so many better ideas out there, like more social housing or crisis stabilization units with peer support. The mayor’s approach goes against all that. He focuses on the hospital. Now, if people need food, shelter and clothing, this is certainly not the best place to get it all.
Melanie Forman does not dare to imagine finding herself in the situation of these homeless people who are caught by the police and interned in a hospital environment. It makes sense that they feel angry and want to lash out. I think when you treat someone more gently and from a crisis de-escalation perspective, you will be able to find common ground and gain support for that person.
In the opinion of the community and the homeless people who use their services, organizations like Fountain House therefore remain effective solutions, particularly for social reintegration. But for the moment, the financing of local authorities is not there, as Harvey Rosenthal explains.
et40% of positions currently. So, yes, we need money just to operate and to make sure qualified people get into those jobs. In other words, we need to stabilize existing programs by funding them properly, but it is equally important to develop more of them.”,”text”:”We cannot fill between 30 and 40% of positions at the moment. So, yes, we need money just to operate and to make sure qualified people get into those jobs. In other words, we need to stabilize existing programs by funding them properly, but it is equally important to develop more.””>We cannot fill between 30 and 40% of positions currently. So, yes, we need money just to operate and to make sure qualified people get into those jobs. In other words, we need to stabilize existing programs by funding them adequately, but it is equally important to develop more of them.
So far, a legal challenge has been filed in court by homeless organizations. So far, a judge has refused to suspend the application of the New York mayor’s plan, but nothing prevents him from doing so later, the time to document the results of this new measure.
As he finishes his coffee in the freezing cold Times SquareAngel has a little advice for his town.
All the City needs to do is give more love, more than discipline. I mean, yes, you need your discipline, but you also have to show discipline for love. My mother used to say: “You know, who likes well punishes well and you’re going to like it.”
Eternal optimist, he hopes that his voice, however small, will be heard.
