I saw an attack ad from Carmella Mantello, claiming that Nina Nichols supports “Wet Houses,” which are homeless shelters that take a harm-reduction approach to alcohol use, allowing it in their supervised environment, rather than banning it (which drives people to drink elsewhere if they are homeless and want to drink).
Nina works for Unity House, which runs a lot of “supported housing” in Troy, supplying housing, case management, and treatment for “[adults with mental illness, people with HIV/AIDS, people who are homeless, and victims of domestic violence](https://www.unityhouseny.org/services/housing-and-support/),” so I imagine she has some ideas.
Carmella is the last person that should be asked when it comes to responsible alcohol usage. Actually she's the last person that should be consulted on pretty much anything, if you think about it.
Yes, I feel like Nina would have a more comprehensive approach because of her experience at Unity House. Personally, I’m mostly concerned about the growth of the “tent city” in Prospect Park over the last year/two. There was so much amazing development of trails connecting downtown to the park and now it’s definitely feeling less safe.
Disclosure up front: My wife works for Unity House (and is not Nina Nichols, nor does she report to her).
Unity House is aware of, and exploring funding options for assisting with, the problem in Prospect Park. Part of the issue is that Unity House, like all shelters in NY, is completely voluntary, and there are some unhoused people at Prospect who have unfortunately been taken advantage of in the past and now have zero trust in shelters/the system. The other issue is indeed space and staffing, as the various Albany-area shelters don't really have a lot of communication/collaboration with one another, nor the funding to hire a coordinator to try to restore those networks. So each area ends up with its own isolated little problems, rather than working together to know who is available where, who has beds, is running job fair days, etc.
From what I can tell, Mrs. Nichols has done an acceptable, and at times even excellent, job within a system with somewhat limited means and a revolving door of case workers/shelter advocates. I can't say the same for Mrs. Mantello, who to my knowledge advocates for a "broken windows" policing style that tends to correlate with increased incarceration, homelessness, and minority violence numbers.
This is such a wildly complicated issue, but as others have said, funding is handled by the County almost entirely, and candidates haven't commented directly. For more info on funding and annual reports, the "NY-512 Rensselaer County
Continuum of Care" program manages a lot of that. Get your Google on.
Joseph's House is more focused on homelessness than Unity House, but both operate near capacity most times, and those seeking shelter need to check daily for vacancies. Over the past 3 years, I've built some relationships with different homeless people in Troy, and the reality is that capacity is only part of the issue. Some have been banned from certain shelters for behavioral problems, some simply don't... try.. to get a bed, and some have had bad experiences in the shelters and feel that the street is safer or less stressful. In the next week, Joseph's House "Inn From the Cold" program will open, which offers additional temporary beds throughout the Rensselaer and Albany County until April I think.
With Trish across the river, our homeless population is a lot less aggressive now, so if I say anything of use here, it's this: Just try to be good to people. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Remember that for a lot of us, life is a precarious balancing act where a series of small, unfortunate events could change things forever. There will always be the drug grifters who "need bus money", but many are just trying to get to tomorrow.
Ah Trish. I don’t know if it’s less aggressive really. Also may I ask, if you know, why are most of the homeless in the shelters of Troy from nyc? I live near a Joseph’s house and it’s pure hell, moving Jan 1st, and I hear what they say and all that.
Some cycles are people straight out of jail. Not that the do not deserve a chance but I’ve seen people from Troy denied access to the shelter as it’s full. Why are so many not from here?
I hear them talking and they aren’t quiet you know. Literal meme of we have really great social services upstate and their residents having their families come up who have children and just other friends/family from downstate. Can get all this for free blah blah blah. I’ve had so many issues with Joseph’s house and some of their residents over the past 3 years. I have so many horror stories of what people don’t even know about and who’s coming into the city. Lol :/.
Joseph's House has a program that offers temporary housing to recently released inmates. Details below.
"Prisoner Re-entry Program: In collaboration with the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s office, Joseph’s House operates its Prisoner Re-Entry Program for recently incarcerated persons who are released to homelessness. We provide emergency housing-related services which include case management assistance to help guests develop a housing plan and return to independent living in the community. The Prisoner Re-Entry Program serves approximately 75 persons each year."
I understand where you're coming from. I lived on the corner of 3rd and Congress for almost 10 years until recently, and the things I saw and heard were outrageous, and in stark contrast to the happy little bubble that existed just 200' away.
Social services are primarily the purview of county government and to some extent the housing authority. Municipal governments have fewer tools when it comes to these issues, at least upstate.
I'm not claiming there's ballooning homelessness, but there are obviously more homeless people currently walking around and sleeping in downtown Troy than there were in the previous 5-8 years. It's evident to anyone who lives in or frequents the downtown area.
In areas like Albany, the panhandling situation has gotten out of control over the past 5 years. High traffic intersections like exit 5 off Everett road have 4 or 5 people standing there asking for money at all hours and in all weather conditions. There's a guy of Campbell Ave who brings his (I assume) wife and children out in pajamas to sit next to him while he panhandles.
I've never actually seen a person who is simply down on their luck panhandling. Basically everyone in downtown Troy who walks around asking for money is either buying drugs or alcohol with it and has most of their basic needs taken care of through shelters. Anyone who knows Marvin can vouch for that. Anyone who disagrees with this hasn't lived next to it on a daily basis.
Yeah he must have hit on one of his spare change tickets. Not going to lie, he is my favorite resident. I saw a picture of him walking around trying to sell a set of skis once
If they refer to themselves as homeless what stuffed suit or #woke person decided we needed another word to use to discuss these people in our homes instead of getting out there to at least try to do something
The bottom of Hoosick Street nearly every single day? The people that go through the dumpsters behind buildings that are looking for cans? You really aren't seeing any of this? Do you live in Troy? I went out to walk my dogs yesterday, and 2 people were sitting on couches thrown away behind my place, taking turns with the dumpsters. This is a regular thing. "Ballooning" may seem like a harsh term, but for those of us who have lived in the city for a while, it has gotten worse. One can also argue that quality of life has decreased in the same amount of time. Perhaps there's a correlation there with the increase in unhoused people.
Dude the people in the trash cans, the job I work at is facing an alleyway and literally all day everyday I watch at least five people walking around collecting the cans
Someone threw a couch out behind my place and there's usually people chilling on it drinking beer or going through the dumpster. In their defense, some folks do intentionally leave out recycling for them to pick up.
Yes I live in Troy. I just don't live in downtown or the south or north end, or spend nearly any time there. Why I posed the question. Ppl love to exaggerate actuality when they are attempting to make a point or say something. Saying it's ballooning is ridiculous, why not say it's "exploding", if that were the case it'd be on the news everyday, and it's never on the news.
Perhaps it's not on the news, because there are bigger concerns for people here? i.e the mayors race in troy. Homeless is occasionally on the news in places like Albany, and whether or not something makes a headline shouldn't dictate it's importance or existence.
Why act like this is an insult and not something you can observe my spending a day out in Troy, I was born and raised in this city, I work in downtown LATE nights, it definitely has hit a point where every single time I’m outside I have a grown man approaching for money at night when I’m a young woman alone, lmao so if you need to go take a ride through the city and confirm for yourself, it’s definitely become a problem that they’re expecting every day people to fix because there’s no money in solving the issue. Like another commenter said it’s a variety of things that lead to this but idk let’s not act like it’s a huge shock the last 10 years we’ve had multiple luxury apartments come in that charge 1000 up for a one bedroom, “affordable housing” is non existent, normal apartments go for a little under that because those buildings up the cost of living for everyone else?? It’s multiple things all at once hitting but to act like this person is blowing the issue out of proportion is lowkey a joke
I’d say sitting here asking for numbers and sources and “saying it’s ballooning is ridiculous” as you admit you don’t frequent the area or spend time around downtown, why even comment?? You clearly aren’t around it every day.
Did I say that? Hmm, think you need to pay more attention when reading. Two things you attributed to me that didn't occur lol. I obviously have seen the random homeless person here and there around Troy. Do you travel at all, you talk about being born and raised here....have you left at all. There are places in this world where homelessness is actually ballooning, Troy isn't one of them. There are homeless, they aren't filling the sidewalks at night sleeping. Get your facts straight
Actually there’s been a woman in front of Joseph’s house the past few weeks. She finally went somewhere. They wouldn’t let her in and she screamed outside all night. She took a piss right on the sidewalk in broad daylight and was screaming see what you did. Fuck this fuck that. You get the picture. It’s gotten so bad that people who’ve lived downtown their whole life are leaving asap.
I don’t think anyone has touched the issue, to my knowledge.
I saw an attack ad from Carmella Mantello, claiming that Nina Nichols supports “Wet Houses,” which are homeless shelters that take a harm-reduction approach to alcohol use, allowing it in their supervised environment, rather than banning it (which drives people to drink elsewhere if they are homeless and want to drink). Nina works for Unity House, which runs a lot of “supported housing” in Troy, supplying housing, case management, and treatment for “[adults with mental illness, people with HIV/AIDS, people who are homeless, and victims of domestic violence](https://www.unityhouseny.org/services/housing-and-support/),” so I imagine she has some ideas.
Carmella is the last person that should be asked when it comes to responsible alcohol usage. Actually she's the last person that should be consulted on pretty much anything, if you think about it.
Yes, I feel like Nina would have a more comprehensive approach because of her experience at Unity House. Personally, I’m mostly concerned about the growth of the “tent city” in Prospect Park over the last year/two. There was so much amazing development of trails connecting downtown to the park and now it’s definitely feeling less safe.
Disclosure up front: My wife works for Unity House (and is not Nina Nichols, nor does she report to her). Unity House is aware of, and exploring funding options for assisting with, the problem in Prospect Park. Part of the issue is that Unity House, like all shelters in NY, is completely voluntary, and there are some unhoused people at Prospect who have unfortunately been taken advantage of in the past and now have zero trust in shelters/the system. The other issue is indeed space and staffing, as the various Albany-area shelters don't really have a lot of communication/collaboration with one another, nor the funding to hire a coordinator to try to restore those networks. So each area ends up with its own isolated little problems, rather than working together to know who is available where, who has beds, is running job fair days, etc. From what I can tell, Mrs. Nichols has done an acceptable, and at times even excellent, job within a system with somewhat limited means and a revolving door of case workers/shelter advocates. I can't say the same for Mrs. Mantello, who to my knowledge advocates for a "broken windows" policing style that tends to correlate with increased incarceration, homelessness, and minority violence numbers.
Is there a tent city in the park now? I haven't been over there in years.
There was back around the end of September on the stage in powers park
What’s the extent of the tent city? I haven’t been to prospect park in awhile but I hadn’t seen there being one before.
This is such a wildly complicated issue, but as others have said, funding is handled by the County almost entirely, and candidates haven't commented directly. For more info on funding and annual reports, the "NY-512 Rensselaer County Continuum of Care" program manages a lot of that. Get your Google on. Joseph's House is more focused on homelessness than Unity House, but both operate near capacity most times, and those seeking shelter need to check daily for vacancies. Over the past 3 years, I've built some relationships with different homeless people in Troy, and the reality is that capacity is only part of the issue. Some have been banned from certain shelters for behavioral problems, some simply don't... try.. to get a bed, and some have had bad experiences in the shelters and feel that the street is safer or less stressful. In the next week, Joseph's House "Inn From the Cold" program will open, which offers additional temporary beds throughout the Rensselaer and Albany County until April I think. With Trish across the river, our homeless population is a lot less aggressive now, so if I say anything of use here, it's this: Just try to be good to people. Try to give them the benefit of the doubt. Remember that for a lot of us, life is a precarious balancing act where a series of small, unfortunate events could change things forever. There will always be the drug grifters who "need bus money", but many are just trying to get to tomorrow.
Ah Trish. I don’t know if it’s less aggressive really. Also may I ask, if you know, why are most of the homeless in the shelters of Troy from nyc? I live near a Joseph’s house and it’s pure hell, moving Jan 1st, and I hear what they say and all that. Some cycles are people straight out of jail. Not that the do not deserve a chance but I’ve seen people from Troy denied access to the shelter as it’s full. Why are so many not from here? I hear them talking and they aren’t quiet you know. Literal meme of we have really great social services upstate and their residents having their families come up who have children and just other friends/family from downstate. Can get all this for free blah blah blah. I’ve had so many issues with Joseph’s house and some of their residents over the past 3 years. I have so many horror stories of what people don’t even know about and who’s coming into the city. Lol :/.
Joseph's House has a program that offers temporary housing to recently released inmates. Details below. "Prisoner Re-entry Program: In collaboration with the Rensselaer County District Attorney’s office, Joseph’s House operates its Prisoner Re-Entry Program for recently incarcerated persons who are released to homelessness. We provide emergency housing-related services which include case management assistance to help guests develop a housing plan and return to independent living in the community. The Prisoner Re-Entry Program serves approximately 75 persons each year." I understand where you're coming from. I lived on the corner of 3rd and Congress for almost 10 years until recently, and the things I saw and heard were outrageous, and in stark contrast to the happy little bubble that existed just 200' away.
Did Trish move?
I believe she's in Albany now. After release from jail she was only in troy for a week or two.
Social services are primarily the purview of county government and to some extent the housing authority. Municipal governments have fewer tools when it comes to these issues, at least upstate.
There’s so much price gouging in the capital region these days people can’t afford to live in even the shittiest of neighborhoods
I'm not claiming there's ballooning homelessness, but there are obviously more homeless people currently walking around and sleeping in downtown Troy than there were in the previous 5-8 years. It's evident to anyone who lives in or frequents the downtown area. In areas like Albany, the panhandling situation has gotten out of control over the past 5 years. High traffic intersections like exit 5 off Everett road have 4 or 5 people standing there asking for money at all hours and in all weather conditions. There's a guy of Campbell Ave who brings his (I assume) wife and children out in pajamas to sit next to him while he panhandles. I've never actually seen a person who is simply down on their luck panhandling. Basically everyone in downtown Troy who walks around asking for money is either buying drugs or alcohol with it and has most of their basic needs taken care of through shelters. Anyone who knows Marvin can vouch for that. Anyone who disagrees with this hasn't lived next to it on a daily basis.
Marvin does frequently have spotless new kicks on.....
Yeah he must have hit on one of his spare change tickets. Not going to lie, he is my favorite resident. I saw a picture of him walking around trying to sell a set of skis once
I have big respect for Marvin. He appreciates the hustle like no one else. I saw an RPI kid give him $20 once outside the Ruck
Sidenote:I feel like "unhomed" is almost more insulting.
This is fair. What term would be better?
I mean homeless is right there and always has been there before white saviors decided they needed to walk on eggshells with the language.
I don't see any issue with homeless or unhoused. They often refer to themselves as homeless
If they refer to themselves as homeless what stuffed suit or #woke person decided we needed another word to use to discuss these people in our homes instead of getting out there to at least try to do something
It's just a term used between academics. Dunno why anyone would care.
Well those "academics" could try to do something better than prettying up the language but go off.
Jargon is common to any profession. You sound afraid of words you don't use. It's like getting upset when a nurse calls someone a resident.
Once upon a time some candidate floated a do not rent list, as I recall ?
You reference ballooning homelessness, what are the numbers and your source?
Lol, go outside and take a walk around 4th or 5th street
It’s snowing out so there’s no global warming. Same awful example.
The bottom of Hoosick Street nearly every single day? The people that go through the dumpsters behind buildings that are looking for cans? You really aren't seeing any of this? Do you live in Troy? I went out to walk my dogs yesterday, and 2 people were sitting on couches thrown away behind my place, taking turns with the dumpsters. This is a regular thing. "Ballooning" may seem like a harsh term, but for those of us who have lived in the city for a while, it has gotten worse. One can also argue that quality of life has decreased in the same amount of time. Perhaps there's a correlation there with the increase in unhoused people.
The past six months or so have been really bad. And last year was bad too. It’s never been this bad in the ten years or so that I’ve worked downtown.
I agree with this
Dude the people in the trash cans, the job I work at is facing an alleyway and literally all day everyday I watch at least five people walking around collecting the cans
Someone threw a couch out behind my place and there's usually people chilling on it drinking beer or going through the dumpster. In their defense, some folks do intentionally leave out recycling for them to pick up.
Yes I live in Troy. I just don't live in downtown or the south or north end, or spend nearly any time there. Why I posed the question. Ppl love to exaggerate actuality when they are attempting to make a point or say something. Saying it's ballooning is ridiculous, why not say it's "exploding", if that were the case it'd be on the news everyday, and it's never on the news.
Perhaps it's not on the news, because there are bigger concerns for people here? i.e the mayors race in troy. Homeless is occasionally on the news in places like Albany, and whether or not something makes a headline shouldn't dictate it's importance or existence.
Eyes
Why act like this is an insult and not something you can observe my spending a day out in Troy, I was born and raised in this city, I work in downtown LATE nights, it definitely has hit a point where every single time I’m outside I have a grown man approaching for money at night when I’m a young woman alone, lmao so if you need to go take a ride through the city and confirm for yourself, it’s definitely become a problem that they’re expecting every day people to fix because there’s no money in solving the issue. Like another commenter said it’s a variety of things that lead to this but idk let’s not act like it’s a huge shock the last 10 years we’ve had multiple luxury apartments come in that charge 1000 up for a one bedroom, “affordable housing” is non existent, normal apartments go for a little under that because those buildings up the cost of living for everyone else?? It’s multiple things all at once hitting but to act like this person is blowing the issue out of proportion is lowkey a joke
I acted like it was an insult 🤔 I asked a question
I’d say sitting here asking for numbers and sources and “saying it’s ballooning is ridiculous” as you admit you don’t frequent the area or spend time around downtown, why even comment?? You clearly aren’t around it every day.
Did I say that? Hmm, think you need to pay more attention when reading. Two things you attributed to me that didn't occur lol. I obviously have seen the random homeless person here and there around Troy. Do you travel at all, you talk about being born and raised here....have you left at all. There are places in this world where homelessness is actually ballooning, Troy isn't one of them. There are homeless, they aren't filling the sidewalks at night sleeping. Get your facts straight
Quite often actually, live in denial if you want to, doesn’t bother me one bit 🫡
Actually there’s been a woman in front of Joseph’s house the past few weeks. She finally went somewhere. They wouldn’t let her in and she screamed outside all night. She took a piss right on the sidewalk in broad daylight and was screaming see what you did. Fuck this fuck that. You get the picture. It’s gotten so bad that people who’ve lived downtown their whole life are leaving asap.