Newsday: “Viewpoint: The New York Newsday Interview with Stella Shindler. She Checks Out Heartbreak Hotels”

NEW YORK NEWSDAY
Op-Ed, March 24, 1988, p. 81
“Viewpoint: The New York Newsday Interview with Stella Shindler. She Checks Out Heartbreak Hotels”

Q. What have you learned about the mix of the homeless population? A. The percentage increase this winter was greater on the {single} women’s side than on the men’s side. On the men’s side it was not as high as we expected it to be. {Also,} there’s been a new study by the American Psychiatric Institute. When we look at the singles population, we see that approximately 40 percent can live on their own and need housing. About 36 percent need housing with some support. About 16 percent need more group residences with some support, and the balance need some kind of inpatient or 24-hour care facility. So we’re trying to move our shelter system in that direction. We’ve embarked on a system whereby shelter residents will be able to apply for home relief {welfare grants}, and we will be looking toward placing shelter residents who are on {supplemental security income} or home relief in supported alternative settings.

Q. Do these facilities exist? A. That’s the {new} Holland Hotel. We’re looking to create those supported facilities. We’re assisting not-for-profits and, in the case of the Holland Hotel, the city is acquiring existing SROs and maintaining them for…