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HOMELESS NEW YORKERS REGISTER TO VOTE AS
THE PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS LAUNCHES NONPARTISAN DRIVE

More than 40,000 New Yorkers are homeless today—yet they are among the most disenfranchised people in the city.

To give homeless New Yorkers an effective voice in government, The Partnership for the Homeless launched a year-long, nonpartisan voter registration drive today at Peter’s Place in Manhattan, The Partnership’s multi-service drop-in center for elderly homeless adults.

“Many New Yorkers who are homeless believe they don’t count and often feel they are treated as invisible by the government and its institutions,” said Arnold S. Cohen, President & CEO of The Partnership. “This drive will help give homeless people a voice and the voting power to hold elected officials accountable, especially for the policies that directly affect them, such as affordable housing, health care, and living wage jobs.”

The drive has registered more than 115 homeless New Yorkers. “I want to do this because I’m an American,” one new registrant said today. Another client said: “The presidential election was so close. Now it’s up to us, and up to me, to vote.”

The voter registration drive is beginning with outreach to The Partnership’s clients, to the city’s 10 drop-in centers for people living on the street, and to clients at several supportive housing programs and shelters.

In the first phase targeted to the March 2 primaries, staff, volunteers, and clients are being trained to enroll prospective homeless voters and provide transportation and assistance to polling sites.

Because many homeless New Yorkers who attended Partnership focus groups said they are skeptical that their vote influences elections and policies, voter education is a key piece of the drive. Prospective voters learn about their rights and historic elections decided by a single vote. They also discuss policies that directly affect their lives.

In the second phase of the drive, The Partnership will expand outreach by tapping its volunteer base to conduct voter drives at its network of faith shelters and at adult and family shelters throughout the city.

Under a 1984 court ruling, homeless New Yorkers have a right to register and to vote even if they don’t have a permanent address.

The Partnership for the Homeless began in 1982 as a single shelter in a Manhattan church basement. Today, the Partnership’s public/private collaborations, direct service programs, and advocacy efforts help families and individuals make the successful transition from New York City streets to permanent housing, skilled jobs and self-sufficiency.

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