Schulman questions 311 homelessness regulations and encampment routing

I have a lot more questions, but I want to open to Councilmember Shulman.

So the statement I read was for a different 311 bill.

There was some confusion as to what was on the agenda.

Okay, anyway.

Sorry.

I caught it, but then I was like.

I just caught it now.

I have a different bill that's going to be in another committee.

For people who are incarcerated.

Okay.

This one I don't have questions on.

I do have an oversight question, though, Deputy Commissioner.

So the new regulations around 311 and homelessness, can you explain that to us?

Because I will tell you that in my district there's confusion in the NYPD as to what exactly it is and isn't.

Sure.

Well, thank you.

I appreciate the question, and I appreciate the clarification on Intro 800.

Thank you for that.

Yeah, Intro 800 is fine.

Well, we could– it's fine.

Okay.

Thank you.

With respect to the question on the homeless handling and–

NYPD.

I can speak to the 311 piece where we play a role, which is to perform the intake from our customer's request, which could be the calls they could call.

They could do some mobile app or they could go online.

And then our job is to get that request to the responding agency.

In this case, as of recent, the responding agency for an encampment request, which I believe you're referring to, does route now to the Department of Social Services, DSS.

Exclusively, right?

Not...

Thank you.

Yes.

Clarify.

Yes.

Exclusively to DSS.

Okay.

And other 311 calls in terms of people that are homeless on the street other than an encampment, that still goes to NYPD?

For other calls, we typically refer to what's known as homeless outreach assistance or homeless service assistance.

So if it's more of an individual in need of support services.

Those currently go and have gone directly to, I say DHS, I should say DSS, Department of Social Services.

So there's been no change in that.

Those continue to go to DSS.

Okay.