Read Rabbi Andy Bachman’s blog about the meeting last week to talk about a neighborhood response to the homeless men of Old First and the homeless in Park Slope in general.
Rev Dan Meeter and I hosted a meeting with participation from the Deputy Commissioners of the New York City Department of Homeless Services
(George Nashak), the Assistant Commissioner of DHS (Jody Rudin), a
member of CBE, two members of Old First, and a representative from the
Park Slope Civic Council.We began with a teaching from the
morning blessings in our Siddur–”Praised be the Eternal God who clothes
the naked; who lifts up the fallen; who frees the captive.” In our
daily prayers, we fortify ourselves with the knowledge that caring for
those who can’t fully care for themselves is our sacred responsibility.And
then the Deputy Commissioner spoke. He told us that under Mayor
Bloomberg, the DHS has the perspective that if there’s a problem with
homeless people, it’s their fault–they’re not getting the information
to those who need it. And he proceeded to educate us so thoroughly and
with such inspiration that within 90 minutes we had coalesced around a
strategy for responding to the problem and challenge of the chronic
homeless who sleep and relieve themselves on the steps of Old First.We agreed on 4 basic principles.
1. Acknowledge with dignity those who are homeless. Look at them. Greet them.
2. Work for their dignity and safety.
3. Connect them to the variety of homeless services in the city.
4. Support the provision of services to these people…