Applying the Lessons of Welfare Reform to the Shelter System
Before coming to the Department of Homeless Services I worked for 15 years at the City’s Human Resources Administration. I oversaw the city’s welfare reform efforts where we had great success in developing an expectation that anyone who could work, should work. This was done with the assistance of a wide range of employment and training programs and the development of strong work incentives and supports. I want to bring the culture of employment and the expectation of work to the shelter system. The income from work will allow households to better transition out of shelter and into the community but the stability and grounding work provides also gives households a better chance to have success when they move out of shelter. I will discuss our efforts to develop the employment expectation, where we have had success and the challenges that remain.Seth Diamond, JD has dedicated his career to helping low-income New Yorkers. Most recently, Mr. Diamond was appointed by Mayor Bloomberg to head the Department of Homeless Services (DHS), assuming his post as Commissioner on April 26, 2010.
DHS prevents homelessness wherever possible and provides short-term emergency shelter and re-housing support when needed. Commissioner Diamond believes these goals are best achieved through partnerships with those DHS serves: public agencies and the business and non-profit communities. By working with partners, DHS creates an environment where those served can return to the community in homes of their own as quickly as possible.
Commissioner Diamond’s philosophy is that for the majority of DHS’ clients, the fastest route to return to the community is to gain and maintain employment. By firmly linking DHS’ municipal rental subsidy to work, DHS is strongly supporting those clients with jobs and investing in their success when they leave shelter.
Prior to DHS, Commissioner Diamond served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Family Independence Administration (FIA) at the Human Resources Administration (HRA). There Mr. Diamond oversaw the administration of the City’s Cash Assistance and Food Stamps programs, serving nearly two million New Yorkers. Under his leadership the Food Stamp rolls increased to their highest levels ever, while Cash Assistance rolls fell to their lowest since January of 1964.
Mr. Diamond attended Stuyvesant High School, Brown University and New York University School of Law.
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