News Summary
New York City has launched the ‘Creating Real Impact at Birth (CRIB)’ program to assist expecting mothers in shelters, backed by a budget of $8.5 million. This initiative aims to prevent infants from being born into homelessness and offers access to housing subsidies. Over 2,000 babies were born in homeless shelters last year, highlighting the urgency of this program. The city also plans to distribute free baby supplies to families in need, reinforcing its commitment to supporting mothers and their newborns.
New York City officials have launched a new program aimed at supporting pregnant residents in need of stable housing, a crucial step towards reducing infant homelessness. The initiative, titled Creating Real Impact at Birth (CRIB), is backed by Mayor Eric Adams and the Department of Social Services (DSS) and has a budget of $8.5 million. This five-year pilot project is designed to help 300 expectant mothers currently living in city shelters, with the goal of preventing infants from being born into such precarious living situations.
In the last year alone, more than 2,000 babies were born in New York City homeless shelters, a statistic that Mayor Adams has labeled as “2,000 too many.” The CRIB program aims to address this alarming issue, fulfilling a promise made by the mayor during his state of the city address in January, which emphasized the importance of ensuring that “no child should ever be born into our shelter system.”
Participants in the CRIB program will have access to housing subsidies through existing city programs. Notably, the CityFHEPS program offers rental subsidies to help families secure stable housing. In the previous year, CityFHEPS has successfully aided 136,000 New Yorkers. Under the current guidelines, households consisting of three or four members can receive up to $3,058 to support rent for a two-bedroom apartment. The city will evaluate which support program—either CityFHEPS or Pathway Home, which provides cash assistance for those temporarily residing with friends or family—will better assist pregnant individuals in avoiding homelessness or reducing their duration in shelters.
Moreover, alongside the CRIB initiative, the Adams administration has rolled out a supplementary program that aims to distribute free baby supplies to families of newborns. These families, who have delivered at designated public hospitals such as Jacobi Medical Center, Lincoln Medical Center, Kings County Hospital, and Elmhurst Hospital, will receive “baby boxes” filled with essential items, including diapers, bottles, and clothing. This initiative underscores the city’s commitment to promoting the welfare of both infants and their families.
The CRIB project represents a significant investment in the future of many New Yorkers, addressing the critical need for stable housing among expecting mothers. By providing essential financial and material support, the program seeks to create safer and healthier living conditions for vulnerable families and their newborns.
This initiative is part of a broader strategy by the city to combat homelessness in general. By focusing on high-risk populations such as pregnant women and new mothers, the program aims to ensure that future generations have a brighter start in life, free from the challenges posed by homelessness.
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Additional Resources
- Crain’s New York: NYC Launches Housing Assistance Program for Pregnant Individuals
- The New York Times: Tylenol Tweet and Pregnancy Autism Debate
- CBS News: NYC to Aid Homeless Pregnant Women
- Wikipedia: Homelessness in the United States
- Greenwich Time: Bethenny Frankel’s Greenwich House Sold
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Pregnancy
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