The Ultimate Homeless Shelter

CBS2 ^ | 11/20/02 | CBS News

[Callahan]

Nov 20, 2002 7:46 am US/Eastern (CBS) (NEW YORK) New York City officials will fly to the Bahamas on Wednesday for a "fact-finding mission" to determine whether retired cruise ships could be used to house the growing number of homeless people, a spokesman for the Department of Homeless Services said.

"They will be looking at a couple of retired cruise ships," said the spokesman, Jim Anderson. "They will be questioning whether they would be safe and appropriate shelter space for homeless clients."

The officials, including Linda Gibbs, the city's commissioner of homeless services, are being flown to the Bahamas on the mayor's private jet. The trip is scheduled to last for a few hours.

Gibbs said the officials would be evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using cruise ships to accommodate homeless people, adding that all options must be explored.

"We can't reject any idea that's offered," Gibbs said on Tuesday night. "I think we have to be unafraid to think creatively and to explore options that maybe haven't been looked at in the past."

Homelessness in New York City is at an all-time high, with 36,000 people staying in shelters each night, according to the Coalition for the Homeless. The city is bound by law to provide free temporary shelter to those who say they have no place to live.

City officials are expected to conduct an annual census of homeless people this winter.

[Callahan]

No jokes about sinking the boat please. Remember--we are compassionate conservatives!

[Governor]

Nope......too easy.
BUT if they could get the lawyers and career politicians to stay aboard, I'd lay the keel charges, provided it was towed 100 miles off shore. Wouldn't want to polute the beaches.

[BlazingArizona]

Since many cruise ships today have Internet access., this would give all those homeless computer techs something to do.

[Pookie Me]

Gibbs said the officials would be evaluating the cost-effectiveness of using cruise ships to accommodate homeless people, adding that all options must be explored.

The city is bound by law to provide free temporary shelter to those who say they have no place to live.

The EASIEST way to make this cost effective is to change the law.

But I guess that wouldn't be compassionate, so instead we'll put a family of four in the lower depths of what passes for the cheapo inboard steerage cabin? Or will the city fathers spend even more money, gut the inside, and build two to three bedroom apartments?

This is going to be Cabrini Green with the opportunity to drown (hopefully they've thought 'bout the liability part)

Pookie & ME

[Wright is right!]

Many of the Carnival ships (the older ones) are already, according to some in the rec.travel.cruises newsgroup, perfectly outfitted for such a mission. I was also going to recommend "The Prestige" but it seems as she's now "unavailable." There are also a number of Greek ferries that seem to be at their best standing at berth that would qualify...

Michael

[big gray tabby]

If the boats were in Sheboygan there wouldn't be any rush to check them out.

[presidio9]

shhhhhhh. As soon as we get them all packed aboard, we are going to weigh anchor and ship 'em all to France and Russia.

[correctthought]

Didn't know the Titanic was available.

[spectre]

This has possibilities. Make the homeless take care of the ship. Mop, clean and cook. Do the laundry and keep their home in "ship shape". Everyone who lives there, would be required to pitch in and be assigned a job or task.

No free ride, or in this case, no free berth.

sw

[presidio9]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/790875/posts

[slimer]

I feel for the person or people who get the job of supervising the "crew".

[jimt]

A local talk show host here in Houston has a better plan. We'll give 'em all two bottles of Mad Dog, put 'em on a bus, drive 'em to Austin and leave 'em there!

End of problem.