Thread by @SafetyNetUJC

[1/2] Today we received trove of NYC #supportivehousing interview outcome data. Here's one that stands out: "Rejected. Client presented as resistant during the interview process. Client did not engage interviewer appropriately." What does "appropriately" mean? Who judges it?

[2/2] The provider does. Is this #racialized, is it #gendered? Is this a valid reason to #gatekeep housing from a homeless person w/ mental illness in need? Social workers should not get discretion to gatekeep a basic human need w/ no accountability. Yet, here we are.

[+1] Here's another reason a homeless person struggling with mental illness was rejected from supportive housing: "Applicant was evicted from previous rental property." @NYCCouncil needs to move forward with legislation to stop this kind of gatekeeping.

[+2] #supportivehousing relies heavily on federal subsidies, so most units are inaccessible to folks who are undocumented. But this kind of shorthand in a rejection, sent through @NYCDHS, is deplorable. "Rejected. Illegal immigrant. Applicant does not have a green card."

[+3] "Rejected. Admits to current drug use with no willingnexx to consider treatment options Admits o lending money to rpeople with low tolerance for not being paid back. Low tolerance for rules in general." These are valid reasons to reject from #supportivehousing, really?

[+4] "Rejected Too young. PACT system has client's age as 65 years old."

[+5] "Rejected: The neighborhood may be a deterent to applicant progressing due to easy access to substances, esp since he is currently struggling with opiod use." Rejected b/c of the neighborhood the housing was in? @NYCDHS & @NYCHRA: this is an acceptable to you?

[+6] "Rejected: Applicant was not forthcoming about her mental health status." @NYCDHS & @NYCHRA, you facilitate these denials - these providers report their reasons to you. This is an acceptable reason to reject someone from housing?

[+7] "Rejected- Internally preoccupied had difficulties participating in the interview" - @NYCDHS, isn't this what #supportivehousing is for? This is an acceptable reason to deny a homeless person housing?

[+8] "REJECTED was evasive with responses, minimized substance use and legal hx and exhibited poor judgement". @NYCDHS & @NYCHRA is this a valid reason for gatekeeping housing from a homeless person?

[+9] "Rejected- Client was not forthcoming regarding history and her health issue" @NYCDHS is this a valid reason to deny someone who is homeless from housing?

[+10] "Rejected: Not forthcoming and lack of insight regarding mental illness and substance use."

[+11] "Rejected - Client has a LINC voucher that he is unable to use at..." @NYCDHS - did you do anything when this person was denied by a supportive housing provider due to their source of income? @NYCHRA would your Source of Income Discrimination Unit agree with this?

[+12] "Rejected - could not stay awake to answer questions. He will answer one question and fall asleep until you ask another question."

...All of the above were from parts of 2018, but @NYCHRA
& others often say the issues are resolved through #CAPS. So, let's look at some rejections from 2019.

2/19: “rejected-language barrier. No cantonese speaking staff to serve client”

10/19 “Rejected- identified more ideal candidate” (SNP Note: Yes, this is the real rejection reason)

10/19 “Rejected- identified more ideal candidate” (SNP Note: Yes, this happened twice)

1/19 “Rejected. He had no insight into his mental illness and coiuld not recall why he became homeless. He also stated that he has declined substance abuse treatment after 2 months of sobriety”

1/19 “Rejected client needs a housing that provodes clienical services” (sic).

1/19 “REJECTED” (SNP Note: No other reason given)

1/19 “REJECTED” (SNP Note: No other reason given. Yes, this happened twice).

2/19 “will not attend-not housing ready” – SNP Note: “Housing ready."

08/19 “Rejected- During the screening (Redacted) did not answer all questions and had to be continuosly be redirected. When (Redacted) did answer questions it was disorganized and had nothing to do with the question asked…” (sic)

10/19 “Rejected: during interview, applicant was evasive about mental health. Is not currently in therapy although she has a mental health diagnosis. Minimized substance abuse. Staff feels applicant needs a more supervised setting.”

11/19 “Rejected- Applicant was not forthcoming about substance use. Had to be probed about substance use history.”

12/19 “Rejected: denied mental health condition, although 2010E states applicant has severe mental health issues. Evassive during interview when questioned about mental health and substance use.”

12/19 “Rejected/ Client has no insight to his subtance use. He denies having a substance use issue. Client stated he suffered from Anxiety and refuses to engage in treatment.”

8/19 “ineligible due to having a baby” (SNP Note: It's illegal to discriminate by family status in NYC. @NYCDHS, you really let this one just fly?)

10/19 “Reject; Client appears to be dealing with PTSD over an incident that occurred a few years ago. Client is better suited for a Congregate setting.” (SNP Note: Is someone surviving trauma and its aftermath really a valid reason to deny them #supportivehousing?)

4/19 “Rejected Applicant has many functional impairments” (SNP Note: What does this even mean?)

4/19 “Rejected /Client was all over the place and was not focus in answering questions.”

Suffice to say, there's some real problems in the #supportivehousing world, which fiercely resists any oversight into rejections. What of Housing First (providing housing first and foremost)? Well, it seems Trump & many supportive housing lobbyists may actually agree.