Talk Bronx New York

An embattled north Bronx neighborhood is being eyed as the site for a city-sponsored homeless shelter.

Project Renewal submitted plans to the city Department of Homeless Services and notified Community Board 12 last week of its plan to open the shelter at 4380 Bronx Blvd.

The 100-bed transitional shelter is to be located on a commercial strip mostly filled with automotive shops.

It is the second social services facility proposed for the Wakefield neighborhood.

Praxis Housing Initiatives last month said it intends to open a multistory building at 4339 White Plains Road with about 60 apartments for homeless people who have medical issues like HIV or AIDS or addiction problems.

Project Renewal’s proposal must now be reviewed by the DHS, a process that could take anywhere from weeks to months.

The DHS has recently opened several shelters and so-called “cluster sites” in the Bronx as it struggles to house large numbers of people rendered homeless by the sagging economy.

“We’re opening facilities all around the city to meet the record demand,” said DHS Commissioner Robert Hess, citing an “unparalleled demand” for homeless services across the nation.

“We’ll continue to do that to meet our legal obligations to house everyone who comes into our system every day.”

Project Renewal now operates four shelters in Manhattan.

Meanwhile, Praxis defended its proposal for the White Plains Road development.

“This is not a shelter. It’s permanent supportive housing,” said spokeswoman Jolie Milstein.

“This could turn around the neighborhood and be the beginning of the revitalization of upper White Plains Road.” Read more..

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Expects good news from Bronx

HOPE is DHS’ annual, one-night survey of individuals living on city streets.

The 2009 HOPE found that unsheltered homelessness had decreased 47 percent since 2005 and 30 percent since 2008. Although critics such as Coalition for the Homeless, a Manhattan based non-profit group, have questioned HOPE methodology, the estimate is a jewel in DHS’ crown.

Thousands of volunteers help perform HOPE; DHS deployed more than 3,000 volunteers to streets, parks and subways on January 25. Unsheltered homelessness has dropped 72 percent in the Bronx since 2005, a decease Hess called “spectacular.” Last year, the HOPE found 2,238 homeless in the city and 164 in the Bronx. Most were found in Manhattan and on the subway system.

“We have made tremendous progress in the Bronx,” Hess said. “We hope that the 2010 HOPE will show that we’ve maintained that progress or done even better.” Read more..

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