"Helping the Homeless" Letter to the Editor of the New York Times- by PFTH CEO Arnold Cohen

Re “Crises on Many Fronts,” by Bob Herbert (column, Oct. 25):

During these fragile and uncertain economic times, we’ll certainly be seeing thousands upon thousands more people teetering on the precipice, falling into homelessness. Just think back to the days of the 2001 economic slump when homelessness in New York City dramatically increased.

By the fall of 2002, more than 16,000 children were living in city homeless shelters, setting an all-time record. So Bob Herbert is absolutely correct. We also need to be deeply concerned about how this financial turmoil will affect the most vulnerable among us — people who were barely getting by before.

The shrinking economy will undoubtedly mean less public and private financing for critical services and fewer jobs for our neighbors in need. But deep budget cuts — which may appear on their face prudent — have historically proved to be fiscally unwise.

The loss of services only manages to push people further into poverty and homelessness, costing taxpayers millions more. Arnold S. Cohen

President and Chief Executive

Partnership for the Homeless

New York, Oct. 25, 2008