Chair Hudson questions DHS on theft and securing personal belongings
Hudson asks about theft and lockable storage. Fellini says single adult shelters must provide lockable storage and can store valuables. Priester says security risk assessments check that lockers are not movable.
Okay, we've heard concerns about theft of personal belongings in shelters, seemingly due to a lack of space to lock belongings away.
What is your policy for bringing in and securing personal belongings into shelters?
Thank you.
As per state regs in single adult shelters, we are required to provide lockable storage and the client is given the key or the code.
It's for them to use to keep their belongings secured.
If they choose, we can also store valuables for a client as long as they need to.
On site?
On site.
Small articles of jewelry perhaps or documents, money orders.
And what is the area that they're given a key to lock away their own belongings?
What type of space are we talking about?
It depends on the site.
The facility, yeah.
Assuming it's a single adult congregate site, it's usually the storage cabinet that separates beds.
Okay.
And what does DHS do to prevent and address theft in shelters?
Again, ensuring that locks are kept secured, that if we see damage, if clients are reporting damage, that we're responsive to that.
Deputy Commissioner Priester can also speak to security in the facilities and their role in making sure that clients'belongings are kept secured and to prevent theft.
And I don't want to give anybody any ideas, but I'm just trying to envision or imagine the size of those lockers, let's call them.
Can one lift that up and remove it?
That's a very good question.
The ones that are directly runs and most of the provider facilities, no.
So when my team does security risk assessments, that's one of the biggest things that we look at to make sure that they're not movable.
Okay.
Okay, great.
Thank you.
But was there anything you wanted to add?
Just in regards to the death, one of the things that we do when the providers document the complaints, we do take steps to try to locate the belongings, including speaking with staff, reviewing surveillance footage, and if it's appropriate, contact the NYPD.
Okay, thank you.