HOMELESS OUTREACH
For the last several years, the FCBID has had an annual contract with the Partnership for the Homeless for the provision of homeless outreach services.
The Partnership dedicates one outreach worker to the Fashion District, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, and on one weekend each month. The outreach worker makes contact with homeless individuals on our streets and, whenever possible, assists them in getting into programs, shelters or other services.
Since many of the homeless suffer from substance abuse or mental illness, or a combination of the two, it is a challenge to convince them to accept help.
Beginning in July 2001, as part of a periodic re-evaluation, we investigated the methodology and results of our current outreach effort, as well as any alternatives. The FCBID Social Services Committee concluded that the FCBID should continue this particular model for the remainder of the fiscal year based on the following:

• The number of individuals accepting some form of services, an average of six or seven per month, demonstrates that there is a continuing need for outreach to the homeless within the boundaries of the FCBID. • The current program has been working well and has been improved since August 2001 when our outreach program became more closely integrated with our Public Safety and Sanitation departments, as well as the outreach program of the Midtown Community Court.

ABOVE OUTREACH WORKER, PAUL MCDONALD, OF THE PARNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS.

• The FCBID program is compatible with other programs in neighboring communities and generally reflects the best methodology currently available for dealing with issues of homelessness.

SURVEY OF MIDTOWN HOMELESSNESS
Along with the Times Square BID, a dozen area social service providers, and the NYC Department of Homeless Services, the FCBID is participating in an ongoing survey of homelessness in Midtown West. Spearheaded by the Common Ground organization, the project is tracking homelessness over time by conducting bi-annual surveys of individuals sleeping on our streets. The goal is to coordinate and improve the efforts of the various social service agencies which serve the area by identifying individuals most in need of assistance and examining patterns with regard to the numbers and locations of those living on the streets.

COMMUNITY SERVICE WORKERS
The FCBID continues its participation in the Midtown Community Court’s community service program. In 2001, 68 individuals who had been sentenced to community service by the Midtown Community Court completed their sentences by working with our Sanitation team to sweep and clean our streets.