The Brian Lehrer Show Supportive Housing Sitting Empty
Sep 16, 2025
David Brand, a housing reporter for WNYC and Gothamist, discusses new City Council legislation aimed at addressing the alarming vacancy rate of 5,000 supportive housing units in New York City. He highlights the challenges facing vulnerable populations, including lengthy waiting lists and bureaucratic hurdles. The conversation emphasizes the importance of supportive housing in preventing homelessness recidivism and navigates the complexities of current housing-first policies amidst shifting political ideologies. Brand makes a compelling case for transparency in tackling these pressing issues.
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Supportive Housing Reduces Return To Homelessness
- Supportive housing shows low homelessness recidivism and helps residents stabilize with counseling and case management.
- Its effectiveness is limited by insufficient supply of supportive and affordable housing overall.
Two Models: Congregate Vs Scattered
- Congregate supportive sites are mostly owned and run by nonprofit providers with on-site services.
- About 16,000 scattered-site units are leased from private landlords, often with low state funding and problematic landlords.
Worker Describes Complex Referrals
- Boone, a supportive housing worker in New Jersey, described referrals from psychiatric institutions and prisons and the complexity of co-occurring problems.
- He said Section 8 can support homeownership after one year and tried to raise that with radio producers.