How do we address the issue of crime and homelessness on the subway?

Host Yang:

Over three million people ride the New York City subway daily. But how safe do they feel using the system? In the past decade, the number of violent crimes in the subway has nearly doubled. So how can the city most effectively reduce crime and make riders feel more comfortable on the subways? Flora Warshaw reports on one potential solution.

Warshaw:

David Kennedy is a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. He says statistics do reflect an increase in violent crime on the subway system. But, he says its an overall lack of civility, such as sleeping on the trains, playing loud music, even open drug use–that contribute to the sense the system isn’t safe.

Kennedy

 I think that sense of of order is much diminished. And I think that's really different than, uh, either that serious assaults are up or that the likelihood that you will be subjected to a serious assault is still vanishingly rare. I think it's that, that larger sense of, of order and civility, that's really an issue here.

Warshaw:

According to last year’s Homeless outreach population estimate, approximately 2,000 people live in the NYC subway system. And research indicates the majority of frequent subway offenders were homeless or had a history of mental illness. In January Governor Hochul deployed 300 additional police officers to monitor the subway. 

Michael Feliciano is a manager at Fountain House, a national mental health nonprofit. He says  just adding more police isn’t the best way to reduce crime on the subways.

Feliciano:  All this money going into the NYPD makes no sense at all. All of this is politics. We, we, and it's the perception of public safety is that, yeah, we need to add more cops to avoid, to curtail people from committing violence because they'll see cops.

Warshaw: He says the additional police are just a band aid on a larger problem–that homeless seek refuge on the subways because they don’t like the city shelters,and have few other options.

Feliciano:

 The people who are staying on the subway is because literally they don't want to go to the shelter and there's a reason why they don't go to the shelter is because they're not getting help there. 

Warshaw:

Aisha Tomate is sitting in Times Square. she  has been in and out of the city shelter system for many years. Now she’s glad to be in transitional housing, and out of the shelters.

Tomate:

 They don't let you bring soda in there, food in there, they treat you like jail, then you lose your bed if you don't go there.

Warshaw:

Feliciano says that getting people off the streets is about more than just a bed for the night–its about providing resources to make a more lasting life change.

Feliciano:

 many of the barriers are like everyday things that people have, you know, whether it's like Id, birth certificate, social security card, you know, things like that.

Warshaw:

The city has expanded homeless outreach on the subway, providing supportive housing and psychiatric services. And the State’s Safe Options Support initiative has already transitioned nearly 850 unhoused individuals into permanent housing. 

Feliciano, sees this as a step in the right direction, but he says a lot more needs to be done. Everyday, his organization Fountain House operates a “recharge station” – a kiosk in Times Square to connect homeless with needed services. Today David Ryans is at the counter, pouring free cups of coffee. He himself suffered from mental illness and sought help from Fountain House. Now, he works at the recharge station. 

Ryans:

 Most of our clients at the Recharge Station are generally in some state of homelessness.  We are here to basically help them have free coffee, free coco, and, uh, and make, hopefully make their day brighter better.

Warshaw:

Feliciano says the Recharge station can function as a safe space for homeless people.

Feliciano: 

 A lot of the time people aren't ready to talk about what's going on, but at least we get to know them. We chip away if they feel comfortable enough after the sixth time of being here, he might actually be like, you know what, this is what's going on right now.

Warshaw:

And, Feliciano says, if the needs of homeless individuals on the subway system can be addressed, it could  make the system feel safer for all riders.  Flora Warshaw, Columbia Radio News.