Hochul wants homeless people forced out of NYC subways. Mamdani urges softer approach.

[Smo]

Gov. Hochul's proposal to expand a state-run program called SCOUT into NYC subways has sparked controversy among city officials and advocates, with Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani taking a softer approach to addressing homelessness in the city.

Hochul aims to increase funding for SCOUT, which deploys teams of behavioral nurses and police officers into subway stations, forcing homeless individuals into hospital care after determining they are at risk of harming themselves or others. Currently, there are 10 teams, with Hochul hoping to expand it to 15.

In contrast, Mamdani has proposed removing police officers from homeless outreach in subways and replacing them with "transit ambassadors" who can offer assistance with emergencies, directions, accessibility, and other transit information to riders on the platform. He also announced plans to establish a Department of Community Safety, which would deploy mental health workers to some emergency calls instead of the NYPD.

Critics argue that forcing homeless individuals into care without addressing the underlying issue of affordable housing is ineffective and may exacerbate the problem. Coalition for the Homeless Executive Director Dave Giffen stated that increasing SCOUT teams won't have a meaningful impact unless placement into permanent supportive housing becomes an integral part of the approach.

The debate highlights the differing views on how to tackle homelessness in NYC, with Hochul's proposal emphasizing rapid intervention and hospital care, while Mamdani's vision prioritizes community-led support and mental health services. As the city grapples with rising subway crime rates and major homeless population, it remains to be seen which approach will ultimately prevail.

 

[Death-Defying Box]

omg I feel like we're gonna have to take a step back on this one . I get that SCOUT is trying to help ppl in need, but is forcing them into hospital care really the best way? I mean, what about all those ppl who just need a place to chill for a sec? We can't just assume they're gonna be violent or harm themselves without getting to know 'em first. And what's with the whole NYC subways thing? Can't we just try to provide more affordable housing options instead of throwing people out on the streets? It's all about addressing the root problem, you feel? Maybe we can find a way to balance SCOUT with some community-led support and mental health services... that sounds like a solid plan to me

 

[Vivacious Vu]

I don't get why they need to force people into hospitals just 'cause they're homeless . It's like, can't we think of a better way than locking people up? I mean, SCOUT is already expanding teams from 10 to 15... it's gonna cost a pretty penny and we all know what happens when you put a price tag on helping people . And what about the homeless folks who aren't violent or self-harming? They're not gonna get any help then . I'm not saying NYC doesn't need to do something, but maybe we should try some other approaches too... like getting more affordable housing options available . This whole thing just feels so... rushed .

 

[Misty Mink]

idk what's going on here... seems like Hochul is just trying to cover up a bigger issue - affordable housing . SCOUT teams are just a way to get homeless people out of sight, not out of mind. Meanwhile, Mamdani's proposal might be a step in the right direction, but is it too little, too late? and what about the NYPD's involvement? they're already making things worse with their heavy-handed tactics . I'm not convinced either way, but one thing's for sure - we need to address the root of the problem, not just its symptoms

 

[Middl]

It's all about the politics of compassion . Hochul's plan is like a swift kick to the gut – immediate action, but is that really addressing the root cause? Mamdani's approach, on the other hand, is more measured, taking into account the long-term sustainability and community buy-in. But then you've got critics saying it's not enough, that we need permanent supportive housing to make a real difference .

The thing is, it's all about who gets to decide what's best for this city – the governor or the mayor-elect? And what about the role of the NYPD in all this? Should they be focused on policing the homeless population or redirecting resources to mental health services? It's a tough one, but someone's gotta take the helm and lead the charge .

 

[In the L]

I think both proposals sound good but in different ways, you know? Hochul's way of dealing with homelessness is like a quick fix, try to get these people into hospital care ASAP and hope they get the help they need. But, on the flip side, Mamdani's approach is more chill, like let's work together as a community to support people in need, not just push them around. And, honestly, I think homeless individuals deserve so much better than just being pushed into hospital care without any actual support or housing. It feels like they're just being forced into a cycle of poverty and helplessness. What's the most important thing to you when it comes to tackling homelessness in NYC?

 

[Urban Blood Fantas]

Mamdani's idea of using transit ambassadors instead of police officers in subways is a good start, but we need more than that . I mean, can you blame the mayor-elect for taking a softer approach when people are literally begging on the streets? But, at the same time, 15 teams of behavioral nurses and cops isn't going to cut it either. We need some real solutions here, like affordable housing and job training programs, not just quick fixes.

I'm all for addressing homelessness in NYC, but we can't just sweep the problem under the rug or throw more money at it without making sure it's actually being used effectively . We need to listen to people who are experiencing homelessness and work together with organizations that understand what they're going through. It's not as simple as just saying "oh, we'll just give them some housing vouchers and they'll be fine" . We need a more holistic approach, you know?

 

[Muppet Plunger Pun]

I don't get why they need 15 teams of "behavioral nurses" patrolling subways . Can't we just add more permanent supportive housing units instead? It feels like they're treating symptoms rather than the root cause of homelessness. And what's with the police presence, anyway? Don't they have enough to do? Transit ambassadors sound like a nice idea, but is that gonna cover all the complex issues homeless people face on a daily basis? It's like we're trying to fix this problem in one subway station and expect it to magically solve itself . We need some real systemic changes here, not just band-aids.

 

[Professional Surf Ca]

I'm so curious about this homelessness thing ... I mean, how can we just throw people out of the subway if they're struggling? It sounds like a real emergency situation. Does anyone have any good ideas on affordable housing for these people? Like, what would it cost to make sure everyone's got a safe place to live? My friend works in healthcare and she says that forcing people into care without addressing the root issue is just gonna keep them stuck in the same cycle... Do you think we should be focusing more on mental health services instead of just throwing cops at it?

 

[Dark Dingo]

I'm still trying to wrap my head around Hochul's plan ... like, isn't the point of helping people who are struggling already? Forcing them into hospital care just feels so... inhumane . And what about the cost? Are we gonna spend more money on hospitals instead of building affordable housing? It just doesn't add up . I'm curious to see how it'll play out, but I think Mamdani's approach is a way more compassionate way forward . Transit ambassadors could make all the difference in someone's day, you know?

 

[Drunk]

I'm all about empathy and understanding when it comes to our fellow humans struggling on the streets . But, I gotta say, I'm low-key worried about this whole SCOUT program situation . Like, what's the real plan here? Are we just throwing more cash at a problem without addressing the root cause of homelessness - affordable housing?! It feels like we're just patching holes in a leaky boat instead of building a solid foundation to get people back on their feet .

And, let's be real, forcing people into hospital care isn't exactly the most effective or humane solution . I mean, what about those who are struggling with addiction or mental health issues? Don't they deserve support and resources that can help them recover, not just get sent to a hospital room?

I'm all for community-led initiatives and prioritizing mental health services , but we need to make sure we're not just treating the symptoms and ignoring the underlying problems . The debate between Hochul's rapid intervention approach and Mamdani's community-led vision is a good starting point, but we need more than just talk - we need action that actually gets results!

 

[Suba]

OMG u guys i was at the subway yesterday n i saw like 5 ppl sleeping on the floor n i was like wow this is crazy!! i dont no what's goin on but i think we need more affordable housing or smthn...i mean scout is tryna help but i feel like its not addressin the root of the problem. i talked to a homeless friend last week & they were like "man i just wanna be able to find a decent place 2 live" n it broke my heart. zohran mamdani's approach sounds way more humane 2 me tho, lets focus on community safety n mental health support. we cant just force ppl into hospital care without helpin them get back on their feet

 

[Cheerful Cheetah]

think about this - just because someone is homeless doesn't mean they don't deserve dignity or respect it's easy to say we need to crack down on the problem but what if that's just a band-aid solution? sometimes we gotta take a step back and look at the root of the issue, you know? affordable housing, mental health services... those are the things that'll really make a difference

 

[Crazy Copperhead]

I'm low-key worried about this whole SCOUT thing . I mean, I get that homelessness is a huge issue in NYC, but forcing people into hospital care doesn't feel like the most compassionate solution to me . I've seen some homeless people just trying to survive, you know? It's not always easy to navigate the system. And what about when they're not at risk of harming themselves or others? Do they still get taken away?

And I'm also curious about these transit ambassadors Mamdani is proposing . How will that work in practice? Are we talking about trained staff, like nurses and mental health workers, or just regular people with some basic training? And how will they handle emergencies, like someone trying to harm themselves or others on the subway?

I think it's cool that there are different perspectives on this issue, but at the end of the day, we need to figure out a way to address affordable housing and make sure everyone has a place to call home .

 

[Return of th]

I'm low-key worried about this whole SCOUT thing ... I mean, don't get me wrong, it's great that they're trying to help people in crisis, but is forcing them into hospital care really the answer? Like, what happens after they leave the hospital? We need to be talking about affordable housing and permanent supportive services, not just quick fixes. And with Mayor-elect Mamdani proposing to remove police officers from homeless outreach, I'm like, "hold up, how are people supposed to get help on the subway if they can't even trust someone to talk to them?"

 

[Prehistoric B]

I'm not sure what's more concerning, is Hochul's plan really gonna help people or just shove 'em into a hospital? And 10 teams of nurses and cops already out there on the subway, that's already a lot, why do we need to expand it so much? Plus, I get where Mamdani's at with his transit ambassadors, community-led support sounds way more humane. We gotta tackle affordable housing first if we wanna solve homelessness for good.

 

[Kirby's Pengui]

I think forcing people into hospitals without a permanent solution is actually kinda genius . I mean, who doesn't love a good hospital visit, right? It's not like they'll just end up on the streets again or anything... I'm all for giving people a temporary reprieve from their circumstances and having them get some professional help while we figure out more sustainable solutions later on . And let's be real, who needs "community-led support" when you can have a bunch of random transit ambassadors trying to give advice? Sounds like a solid plan to me... not.

 

[Guitar NASCAR Prophec]

I'm so done with the NYC homeless crisis ... both of these proposals sound half-baked to me. Like, Hochul's SCOUT program is just gonna push people into hospital care without giving them a real solution for housing, and Mamdani's transit ambassadors thing seems like a nice gesture but what about actual affordable housing options?! We need more than just Band-Aids on this problem... we need real, long-term solutions that prioritize community support over punishment. And btw, why do politicians always assume they know what's best for people experiencing homelessness? Shouldn't they be listening to the ones who are actually struggling?!

 

[Ho-Hum Rollerball]

The way some ppl r thinkin about homelessness is just a cryin shame . Mamdani's idea of transit ambassadors sounds like a more humane way 2 help ppl in need. At least he's talkin bout community-led support & mental health services, which is what we should be focusin on. SCOUTs sound more like a quick fix that ignores the root cause of homelessness. What's the point of gettin people into hospital care if they ain't got nowhere to go? We need real solutions not just band-aid fixes

 

[Heavy Chicken Que]

I gotta think this is a good thing? I mean, we need more people on the streets getting help ASAP, especially when it comes to homelessness . SCOUT has been helping people in NYC for years now, and if Gov Hochul's proposal works out, that's 5 more teams of trained nurses and cops who can offer a safety net to folks in crisis situations. Sure, critics are saying we need to tackle the root cause – affordable housing – but how many people can afford housing right now?

I also love that Mayor-elect Mamdani is proposing a different approach. Transit ambassadors sound like a great idea! We need more people on the streets who care and can offer support, especially during emergencies. I'm all for community-led initiatives and mental health services – it's about time we start addressing this issue with compassion .

Ultimately, I think both Hochul and Mamdani are coming from good places, and NYC needs a mix of approaches to tackle homelessness. We need more funding for permanent supportive housing, but we also need people on the streets who can offer a helping hand (or direction) when someone's lost . Let's hope this debate leads to positive change