New York Tightens Shelter Policies

Rosa's story, like those of many who end up with no place to go, is complicated.

She came to New York from Puerto Rico with her family in May 2006 to move in with her 25-year-old daughter, who was having legal difficulties.

Months later, the daughter kicked out Rosa and the rest of her family. In August, a neighbor who had taken them in temporarily said they had to go.

Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, Rosa's mother's house, where Rosa had been living before coming to the United States, had filled with other relatives, she said, so there was no longer room. In New York, Rosa began an application for public housing and believed she would soon have a home.

The homeless agency sheltered the family during August, while investigating its case. When the city found the family ineligible, recommending a return to Puerto Rico to live with Rosa's mother, the family began to use the one-night shelter stays.

That ended on Oct. 22, when the family reapplied for shelter and was told no more overnights, Rosa said.

Agency officials said they could not discuss publicly a specific family's case.

After losing the overnights, the family camped directly outside the intake center, then shifted to a spot across the street. The children helped crumple paper to plug holes in nearby pipes that housed roaches and rats. Rosa found a fire hydrant spouting water that the children could use to wash up in the morning before school.

"I can't do it anymore," said Cristal, when she was out of her mother's earshot. "I hate the street."

That night, advocates found a hotel room for the family and phoned the Department of Homeless Services, and the next day, Rosa's family was taken to a shelter. "I never want to be homeless again," Rosa said.