December 22, 2009

NYC Residents Oppose Bronx HIV/AIDS Homeless Shelter

Some residents of the Bronx, New York, are raising objections to a proposed homeless shelter in their neighborhood for people living with HIV/AIDS, YourNabe.com reports.  

According to the article, Praxis Housing Initiatives, a nonprofit group that operates transitional housing in New York City for homeless people with HIV/AIDS, is planning the project.  

The proposed development is intended to serve as a permanent residence for occupants of Praxis’s transitional housing in Brooklyn.  

The development would “destroy our work” to revive commerce in the area, said Mary Lauro, a representative from the Wakefield Taxpayers and Civic League.  

Although Praxis doesn’t need the local community board’s approval, the board will host a meeting January 7 with Praxis and concerned residents and business owners.

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Previous Comments:

Nick, Roseville, 2010-01-11 01:25:05
I think that people should not worry about this, it really is not physically effecting them and they should not worry about it. Like others have said...I have been positive for about 3/4 of a year and if I needed it I would greatly appreciate it. People do not understand that some people wether or not that it is HIV or some other disease, some people young/old get shut out from their families and do not know where to turn, and this is a good thing, there really could not be a bad effect from it.

Ray, Chicago, 2009-12-29 14:01:09
It seems that people, once more, fear what their limited, personal experience allows. I have HIV postive for six years, that I know of, and would appreciate such a housing opportunity if I needed it. I am an Assistant Professor of English, and I make a consistent effort to teach my students that "we" are existing in and are navigating this world together.

Rick Warren, Lake Forest, CA., 2009-12-29 13:50:11
When profits matters more than people, when commerce has no heart for compassion, when fear trumps facts, this is what happens.

Michael-Bruce, Philadelphia, PA, 2009-12-24 14:26:03
How exactly will the residence for homeless PWAs destroy the work of rebuilding commerce in the area of the Bronx where the home is planned? Most residences like those require residents to be clean and sober, provide mental health professionals, and are supervised. The snobbery that these NIMBYs (Not In My Back Yard) reveal when they object to progressive social programs makes me want to puke. Stigma is still alive and thriving even in a great city like NY.

Bill, California, 2009-12-24 10:56:55
There's always some type of excuse from ignorant and selfish people. Mary Lauro is another ignorant fool that is in the group of people that think their neighborhood values will decline because of a homeless shelter, namely and HIV/AIDS shelter. People like Lauro used that line when blacks started moveing to the suburbs.."our property values will decline." I don't see how a homeless shelter to get people off the street would "destroy" their work in getting commerce back!!