Implement the ‘Pilot Program’ to Eliminate Troublemakers in Homeless Shelters Nationwide

Kudos to the Adams administration for initiating a pilot program aimed at removing troublemakers from select city homeless shelters — but this policy needs to be implemented city-wide without delay.

On Monday, Homeless Services Commissioner Molly Wasow Park informed the City Council that her department will start temporarily ejecting residents who continuously engage in “gross misconduct,” such as violence, failure to complete housing paperwork, or turning down a legitimate offer for permanent housing.

Rule violators will receive ample due process, including several opportunities to demonstrate that their misconduct was not entirely their fault, such as cases where Homeless Services verifies that a rejected housing offer was indeed feasible; consideration will also be given for those with mental health challenges.

However, the commissioner has stated that the initiative is commencing on a “very small scale” at only a “few” adult-only shelters to allow Homeless Services to “assess the implications and the workload.”

Why the cautious approach? It functioned seamlessly across the board during the Bloomberg administration, before the de Blasio administration lowered the standards due to the belief among some leftists that “accountability” is a negative concept.

It is common sense to remove residents who harm others or purposely undermine efforts to secure permanent housing from shelters.

This approach enables city workers to concentrate their efforts and resources on residents who genuinely want assistance.

Furthermore, eliminating persistently violent individuals will significantly enhance conditions in city shelters, which are often so unsafe that many prefer to sleep on the streets.

Criticism from the left is to be expected: Councilwoman Tiffany Caban expressed her “concerns” over dedicating resources to “push people out of housing.”

Indeed: Those who are repeatedly breaking the rules and rejecting permanent housing options.

What truly displaces innocent individuals from housing are disorganized, unsafe shelters occupied by long-term residents who have no plans to leave the system.

Progressives often side with disorder to such an extent that they resist even basic protections for the homeless.

The Department of Homeless Services should not hesitate to roll this out city-wide: All homeless individuals deserve the dignity of being treated as adults responsible for their actions — and efforts to enhance facilities for everyone.

Disregard the patronizing leftists and reinstate standards across all shelters without delay.