| Releases
& Statements
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 5 , 2009
Contact: Sarah Krauss
(212) 669-4193; (917) 541-0936
Statement from Public Advocate Gotbaum
on the Department of Homeless Service Survey Results
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, "We need more honesty and less PR spin from DHS. You simply can’t draw meaningful conclusions from this survey, yet the city is using these results to tout a dramatic reduction in street homelessness. Our review of DHS press releases shows there was a 20 percent decrease in volunteer participation this year. Moreover, this year's survey was conducted on a bitterly cold night – at 27 degrees, it was the second coldest citywide HOPE night since 2005.
Both these factors potentially contributed to the smaller number of visible street homeless. While I honor the service of all those volunteers who participated in the city's annual HOPE survey, DHS needs to make sure that they paint an accurate picture of homelessness and poverty in New York City."
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