Majority of formerly homeless families in Far Rockaway building sent to eviction court

Housing for Homeless Families in Far Rockaway on Brink of Eviction Crisis

A disturbing trend is unfolding in Far Rockaway, Queens, where two-thirds of families living in a publicly subsidized housing complex have been served with eviction papers over the past two years. The 63-unit Harriet Tubman building, owned by WIN, a nonprofit organization that provides shelter and supportive services, has seen an alarming number of evictions, with three tenants ultimately being removed from their homes.

The situation is particularly egregious given that these families were once homeless and had been provided with the support they needed to rebuild their lives. However, many have struggled to pay rent due to mental illness, lost jobs, or delays in receiving public assistance benefits, which cover a significant portion of their rent.

Eviction filings are not tracked by the city, but over 550 eviction warrants have been filed across supportive housing units nationwide, with 185 people being evicted. In contrast to what providers claim – that evictions are rare and only used as a last resort – many tenants report feeling overwhelmed by the court process, which can exacerbate mental health issues.

One tenant, Nilsa Maria, described how she was sued twice over owed rent after her daughter moved out and her public assistance benefits decreased. "They're supposed to help us out," she said. "I need help, I need help."

The city's Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) has acknowledged the issue but claims that landlords must pursue every avenue before filing an eviction. However, tenant advocates argue that this approach can lead to a rapid escalation of evictions, which not only harms families but also drives up costs for taxpayers.

WIN CEO Christine Quinn said her organization was working with its landlord to slow down the eviction process and provide more support services to tenants struggling to pay rent. "Our responsibility is to make sure our tenants in supportive housing stay permanently housed," she said.

In response, the city's Department of Health and Mental Hygiene has committed to expanding access to high-quality supportive housing, while the Department of Social Services is building a system to track eviction warrants and identify at-risk tenants. However, critics argue that these measures are insufficient and that funding for supportive services remains a major barrier to providing adequate support.

The situation in Far Rockaway highlights the need for more effective policies to address homelessness and mental illness, particularly among vulnerable populations. As one advocate noted, "It just creates upheaval" – a chaotic cycle of evictions, court proceedings, and further instability that can have devastating consequences for those involved.

I'm low-key freaked out about this situation in Far Rockaway . Like, these families were already living on the edge, going from homelessness to having a roof over their heads - now they're facing eviction? It's just not right. The system is supposed to be there to help them, but it seems like they're getting pulled back into the same cycle of struggle.

I'm also kinda surprised that more isn't being done about this. I mean, we all know that supportive housing is key, but here we are with a situation that's spiraling out of control . And yeah, the city's got some words and promises, but where's the real action? It feels like they're just trying to paper over the issue instead of actually doing something about it.

I know we can't just sit back and do nothing - we need to hold our leaders accountable for making sure these families have a safe place to call home. Like, what's the plan here? How are we gonna prevent this from happening in other places? We need some real solutions, not just Band-Aid fixes

OMG, like I cant even believe what's happening in this housing complex . Its not right that ppl who were once homeless are being kicked out again cuz they're having trouble paying rent. Idk, like I would feel so stressed if thats me. And it sounds like its hard to get help, since public assistance benefits can be all messed up .

I dont think evictions shd be the 1st resort either, cuz that just adds more stress and stuff. Like, isnt that what supportive housing is for? To help ppl who need it? I feel like the city should do more to help, like provide more funding or something . This eviction crisis in Far Rockaway is like, super disturbing .

I heard WIN CEO Christine Quinn is working with her landlord to try and slow down evictions, thats a good start, right? But I dont think its enough, since theres still ppl being kicked out left and right. Idk, maybe they shd just raise the rent or something, but that wont help ppl who cant afford it .

Ugh, this is so not right I mean, these families were given a second chance at life, literally, by living in subsidized housing, and now they're being threatened with eviction? It's like the system is against them . The fact that 550 eviction warrants have been filed nationwide is just insane... what's going on? And it's not just about the families, it's also about the taxpayers who are footing the bill for all these evictions .

I'm so frustrated with the city's response, claiming that landlords must pursue every avenue before filing an eviction. That's just code for "we don't care about your well-being" . And what's with the lack of funding for supportive services? It's like they're expecting families to magically fix their problems without any help .

We need to do better, NYC! We need to provide more support for these vulnerable families and create policies that actually help people get back on their feet . This is just a symptom of a larger issue, but it's one we can't ignore .

Ugh my heart is literally breaking thinking about all these families being kicked outta their homes . I mean what even is the point of providing supportive housing if they're just gonna take it away from you when you need it most? These ppl are struggling to get back on their feet, they've been through so much already...losing a job, dealing with mental illness, public assistance delays...and then the eviction notice shows up and it's like, what even is the support system supposed to do?

I'm so done with this "landlord gotta pursue every avenue" nonsense. It's not about being a good landlord, it's about being a human being and showing some compassion. These ppl are paying rent because they're desperate to stay in a place that's supposed to be helping them, but instead they're just getting squeezed harder. And don't even get me started on the mental health implications of all this stress...it's like, can't we just prioritize people's well-being for once?

I know the city's trying to do something about it, but honestly I'm not holding my breath. We need systemic changes, not just a Band-Aid solution. Like, what if we actually invested in programs that help ppl get back on their feet instead of just providing temporary housing? I don't know, maybe I'm just being too optimistic...but someone's gotta speak up for these families who are being left high and dry

OMG you guys I'm literally worried about these families in Far Rockaway they're already struggling to get back on their feet after being homeless and now they're facing eviction crisis? it's like the system is failing them even more. I mean, I get that landlords have to make a profit but come on, can't we find a way to support these families more?

I'm seeing so many evictions across the US right now and it's just heartbreaking what's going on with our mental health system? We're supposed to be helping people, not pushing them further into homelessness . I wish we could have more resources for supportive services like WIN is trying to provide.

The city's response is better than nothing but it feels like they're just scratching the surface . Expanding access to high-quality housing and tracking eviction warrants are good starts but we need more funding and a more comprehensive approach to tackle this issue.

I'm really worried about these families living in Far Rockaway . It's so sad to hear they're struggling with evictions and feel like they're losing their homes all over again. But you know what really gets me? The fact that many of them were once homeless and got a second chance at life thanks to WIN's support services . Now, it feels like the system is failing them.

I'm not sure what's more concerning – the lack of eviction tracking or the landlords' approach to dealing with evictions. I think we need a more balanced approach that helps these families get back on their feet without pushing them further into homelessness . Maybe if we can find ways to provide more affordable housing options and support services, we can break this cycle.

The good news is that the city's departments are acknowledging the issue and trying to do something about it . More supportive housing, better tracking systems – these are all positive steps towards addressing homelessness and mental illness. It won't be easy, but I'm hopeful that with more funding and coordination, we can make a real difference .

The situation in Far Rockaway is seriously messed up . It's like they're trying to kick people when they're already down . I mean, these families were once homeless, struggling to make ends meet, and then they get a chance to rebuild their lives . But now, with evictions piling up, it's like the system is against them .

I'm all for landlords making rent payments, but not at the expense of people's mental health . It's like they're saying, "Sorry, you can't have a break," when really, these families need support . And what's with the lack of tracking on evictions? That just adds to the chaos .

The city's trying to do something about it, but it feels like they're not doing enough . More funding for supportive services and better policies would make all the difference . We need to find a way to help these families before things get out of hand . It's time to put people over profits .

I mean, have you seen the stats on this? 2/3 of families in Far Rockaway are facing eviction, and it's not even like they were homeless to begin with... they were given a chance to rebuild their lives, but then life just threw them curveballs. It's like, landlords need to understand that sometimes people can't pay rent due to legit reasons like mental health issues or losing a job, you know? And the city's approach is like, "landlords gotta chase every penny", which is not gonna help anyone. We need more support services and policies that actually address homelessness and mental illness, not just slapband solutions .

this is so messed up... two-thirds of families being kicked out of their homes because they can't pay rent due to mental illness or lost jobs? it's like the system is failing them all over again. the city is trying to help, but the policies are just not working. we need more funding for supportive services and a way to track eviction warrants so that we can identify at-risk tenants before it's too late.

i feel so sorry for these families who were once homeless and had a second chance at rebuilding their lives. now they're facing this huge crisis because of circumstances beyond their control. the system needs to step up its game and provide more support, not just talk about it.

and what's with the landlord saying that they need to pursue every avenue before filing an eviction? isn't that just another way of saying that they don't care about their tenants' well-being? i think the city needs to take a closer look at this and make some real changes.

This is straight up messed up ... Like, these people are literally supposed to be getting help, not getting tossed out on the street all over again. It's not just about the families who are being evicted, it's also about the damage this does to their mental health. You have these people who were already struggling with serious issues and now they're facing court, losing stability, it's like a nightmare come true .

And the city's all like "Landlords gotta follow the rules" but what about when those rules are just plain unfair? I mean, we know that evictions are already happening at an alarming rate, but to think that they're just gonna keep going up because of some bureaucratic nonsense is just... no. We need real solutions here, not just empty promises and Band-Aid fixes.

It's not like WIN or anyone else is doing anything wrong, it's just the system is broken and we need someone to come in and fix it . And can we please talk about the fact that these families were literally given a second chance? That they were supposed to get support and help, but instead they're being left high and dry. It's just not right .

omg u guys i cant even handle this eviction crisis in far rockaway like what even is going on? these families were homeless and got housing support but now theyre struggling to pay rent cuz of mental illness or job loss... its like, the system is supposed to help them not kick them out win ceo is trying to slow down evictions and provide more support services but its just not enough the city needs to do better and find ways to keep these families housed

I'm really worried about these families ... They've already been through so much by being homeless, and now they're facing this eviction crisis? It's not just about the money; it's about stability and support. I feel like the system is failing them at every turn. The city's trying to help, but it seems like there's a lot of room for improvement . We need more resources for supportive services, not just temporary fixes that kick families around when they're already down . This isn't just a Far Rockaway problem; it's a national issue that requires a bigger conversation .

omg this is so crazy like what's happening in Far Rockaway is not right at all! these ppl were already struggling to get back on their feet after being homeless and now they're facing eviction cuz of rent? it's just too much i feel for Nilsa Maria she's got a daughter who moved out and her benefits decreased... that's just cruel

and the city's response is like "oh landlords gotta pursue every avenue" but what about tenants who are already struggling with mental health issues? don't they deserve help? this whole situation is so messed up it's like a never-ending cycle of evictions and court stuff... when will we get to a point where ppl can just live without worrying about being kicked out

This is insane... like, what's going on? These families were supposed to be getting help, not being kicked out of their homes. I get it, landlords gotta make a living too, but this is ridiculous. Like, 550 eviction warrants nationwide? That's crazy! And the city's all "oh, we're working on it" but what about the people who are already suffering? I mean, I'm no expert, but shouldn't there be some kind of buffer zone or safety net for these families? It's not like they were living in the streets before. They needed help and now it's like the system is failing them.

I'm low-key worried about these homeless families in Far Rockaway . It's crazy to think that two-thirds of families are being served with eviction papers - that's like, a lot of people struggling to stay in their homes. I get it, mental illness and public assistance delays can make paying rent super tough, but it feels like there should be more support systems in place .

I mean, the fact that 185 people have been evicted nationwide is just shocking . And it's not just about the numbers - it's about the human impact. I've seen stories where families get kicked out of their homes and then end up on the streets again . It's like, we're supposed to be helping people rebuild their lives, but instead we're making things worse.

I think we need to re-examine our policies and make sure they're really supporting vulnerable populations . Maybe it's time for more funding for supportive services or some kind of rent control . We can't keep putting people through this cycle of eviction and instability - we need to find a better way forward .

I'm shocked by this eviction crisis in Far Rockaway . It's crazy to think that families who were once homeless are now being kicked out due to rent issues. Mental illness, lost jobs, and delayed public assistance benefits are all valid reasons for struggling to pay rent, but it feels like the system is just piling on more stress.

I mean, can't we prioritize helping people get back on their feet instead of kicking them out? It's not rocket science . We need better support services and more affordable housing options. The fact that landlords are only now starting to slow down evictions is a huge step in the right direction.

I'm all for WIN CEO Christine Quinn trying to work with her landlord, but we need more systemic changes too. It's not just about providing more support; it's about making sure everyone has access to affordable housing and resources. We can't keep relying on patchwork solutions .

this is so not fair 2/3 of families in Harriet Tubman building got kicked out, and they were just trying to get back on their feet after being homeless... mental illness, lost jobs, delayed benefits... that's a lot to deal with. its like, they're supposed to help us out but instead they're making it harder for people to stay stable.

and the city is all like "landlords gotta follow rules" but thats not helping anyone. the eviction process is already super stressful, now you add court stuff and it's like... a never ending nightmare . its time for some real change, not just more talk about how they're gonna "help" people. we need actual solutions, not just empty promises