Federal Cuts Expected to Worsen Homelessness Across New York, Veterans Outreach Expands Nationally

Efforts to address homelessness are taking varied approaches across the U.S., focusing on intervention, advocacy, and outreach. Deputy James Mackey of the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office has helped over 200 homeless individuals through his 'Homeless Intervention Project,' emphasizing empathy and cooperation between law enforcement and social services. Meanwhile, the Black Homeless Men Working Group highlights the disproportionate impact of homelessness on Black men, noting the exacerbation of challenges due to a Supreme Court ruling that criminalizes homelessness and perpetuates racial biases in psychiatric emergency care. In New York, homelessness is worsening amid federal cutbacks for social services, with estimates showing a significant increase in homeless populations, complicating efforts to provide assistance despite detailed policy recommendations. Veterans facing unsheltered homelessness remain a critical concern, prompting the VA's nationwide initiative to find and rapidly house unsheltered veterans while providing healthcare and support services. These multifaceted challenges underline the urgent need for coordinated policy, community engagement, and targeted programs to mitigate homelessness and its health and social effects.