New NYC Commissioner: "I Haven't Worked Directly in the Homelessness System"

by Neil Donovan · 2010-04-20 12:00:00 UTC
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Neil Donovan is part of Change.org's Changemakers network, comprised of leading voices for social change. Neil is the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.

Mayor Bloomberg accepted the resignation of New York City's embattled Homeless Services Commissioner, Rob Hess, yesterday and announced that Seth Diamond, a former Giuliani welfare over-hauler, would replace him. Diamond will be saddled with the ballooning number of homeless families and responsibility for implementing a new and highly controversial strategy of charging homeless people rent for the use of a homeless shelter.

At an interview yesterday, Diamond described his transition, "I think even though I haven't worked directly in the homelessness system, I think I have enough experience that I can do well there." He went on to explain, "What we've done there [in the NYC Welfare System], which I think is applicable in a lot of ways to the homeless system, is setting high expectations for people, supporting them as they try and reach those expectations, strongly supporting people who go to work, and having some consequences for people who fail to take advantage of some of the opportunities that we make available," he said.

The National Coalition for the Homeless is also setting high but reasonable expectations for Seth Diamond as NYC's new commissioner of homeless services. He should be supported, as he tries to reach his goals and expectations. But, it should also be understood, right from the beginning, that there will be some real consequences if he fails to take advantage of the resources and opportunities he has available working with and for the wonderful homeless men and women of New York City.

Photo credit: moriza

Neil Donovan is the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless.
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