IN JULY 2003, THE FCBID RENEWED ITS CONTRACT WITH the Partnership for the Homeless to provide outreach services for another year. The Partnership’s Paul McDonald continues as the outreach worker dedicated full-time to the Fashion District. Paul is on duty Monday through Friday, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and during two weekend days per month. At all other times, the Fashion District is covered by the Partnership’s mobile outreach unit.

On September 16, 2003 from 2:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m., Paul McDonald and the FCBID’s William Daly served as team leaders for this year’s second count of homeless individuals sleeping on the streets of Midtown, from 23rd Street to 59th Street, from Madison Avenue to the Hudson River. Nine individuals were counted within the boundaries of the FCBID, as compared to 13 individuals recorded in the area during the last count in February 2003.

The homeless counts continued in 2004, with the first taking place on the night of February 24. The FCBID’s William Daly again served as a team leader. During the count, 11 homeless individuals were noted within the confines of the BID, roughly the same number as one year ago.

The bi-annual homeless counts, which are coordinated by Common Ground, are used as a measure for determining the scope and type of services that will eventually be provided by the Street to Home Initiative (S2Hi), a group that was formed to coordinate the activities of all the organizations that serve the homeless population in this part of Midtown. Through S2Hi, a shared database will prevent duplication of services and permit group consultation about the most effective ways to assist clients. The group’s ultimate goal is to secure funding to provide permanent housing and appropriate care for the most service resistant individuals.

In October, the FCBID signed a memorandum of understanding with Common Ground recognizing that the FCBID, through it’s contract with the Partnership for the Homeless, is now joining forces with other homeless service providers in the S2Hi program. Paul MacDonald has already identified one of his regular clients for inclusion in the program. In addition, Paul is being trained by Common Ground in motivational interviewing, a technique that involves listening for clues that will assist him in determining the factors that will motivate homeless clients to accept services leading to a housing placement. S2Hi will also assign a psychiatric social worker to assist Paul with mentally unstable clients as appropriate

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