Mayor Adams, Norman Siegel Announce Street Homeless Advocacy Project Open House

November 11, 2022

NEW YORK – New York City Mayor Eric Adams, veteran civil rights advocate and former executive director of the New York Civil Liberties Union Norman Siegel, and members of the New York Street Homeless Advocacy Project (SHAP) today announced a public open house to encourage New Yorkers to volunteer with SHAP’s outreach initiative and share updates on the program. Launched this past July, SHAP is a volunteer outreach initiative to provide direct support to those experiencing homelessness. SHAP’s primary purpose and intention is to train volunteers, including those with lived experience to advocate for and offer services to unhoused New Yorkers.

"Solving the crises of homelessness will take all New Yorkers,” said Mayor Adams. “Join me and one of the great civil rights leaders, Norman Siegel, in this noble work by joining us at next weekend’s Street Homeless Outreach Project open house to learn more. The Street Homeless Advocacy Project is another step in the right direction when it comes to helping our brothers and sisters experiencing homelessness.”

“No New Yorker should have to live on the streets,” said Norman Siegel. “The Street Homeless Advocacy Project has recruited and trained volunteer advocates to reach out to people living on the streets to assist them in obtaining alternatives – including housing, safe-haven and stabilization beds, mental health, addiction, and job training placements – to leave the streets voluntarily. I look forward to sharing our progress at this open house and encourage all interested New Yorkers to join us.”

The open house will take place on Saturday, November 19, 2022, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM at Tweed Courthouse, 52 Chambers St., New York, New York 10007. Those interested in attending the open house should RSVP by November 17, 2022 by emailing shapnewyorkcity@gmail.com. SHAP will honor the first 65 RSVPs on a first come, first serve basis. If more than 65 individuals RSVP, a second open house will be hosted later.

Over a period of 12 weeks since its inaugural kick off in August 2022, SHAP volunteers have conducted weekly outreach at South Ferry, Midtown, Tompkins Square Park, and the Bronx. Volunteers working on the ground and communicating directly with people experiencing street homelessness in a manner that respects their dignity and worth is a key element in having people experiencing homelessness voluntarily leave the streets. SHAP aims to create experienced neighborhood teams to conduct outreach with street homeless individuals.

SHAP encourages every New Yorker to foster a committed and deeper understanding of the city’s current homeless crisis and to embolden each New Yorker to become part of the solution to addressing the homelessness crisis.

###