The city has stomped all over the rights of countless homeless young adults – mostly pregnant women or those with kids – by callously turning them away from city shelters because they’re under 21, advocates have told The Post.
The complaints from youths seeking help at the Department of Homeless Services’ family shelter in The Bronx have advocates concerned about the safety of the vulnerable population.
The rejected youths, between the ages of 18 and 21, are frequently told they are “minors” and are referred to Covenant House, said Nancy Downing, the private agency’s staff attorney compiling the complaints.
“The youths are being told they are not eligible, and I have a problem with that because they are being denied their due process rights,” she said.
“There is nothing in the Public Welfare Law that says they are not eligible for services because of their age.”
Anyone over 18 is allowed to seek services at city shelters.
Covenant House is primarily used as an emergency shelter for young adults and teens.
Homeless Services, on the other hand, provides shelter and specializes in trying to find permanent housing for people, especially young moms.
Advocates complain shelters don’t provide youngsters with all the available options.
The city did not deny the allegations, and it plans to “revamp” its intake process and have staff at the Bronx shelter “undergo mandatory training on policy,” according to a Department of Homeless Services statement.
The turn-away policy is suspected of being part of the reason Covenant House experienced an unusual 18 percent increase in its population from May 1 to July 31, compared with last year.
Two-thirds of the youths are between ages 18 and 21, said Georgia Boothe, the agency’s associate executive director.