A judge today blocked Mayor Bloomberg and DHS Commissioner Seth Diamond’s proposed policy to demand “proof of homelessness” for single adults entering the city shelter system.

The judge ruled in favor of the NYC Council (who brought the lawsuit), on the grounds that City Council was not properly informed of the policy.

“The city is still allowed to turn away homeless families if they’ve been couch surfing with relatives,” said Kristin Goodwin, Director of NYC Organizing and Advocacy with Housing Works. “We’re happy about today’s ruling, but we have further to go to making housing available to all those in need.”

Mayor Bloomberg however seems to think people are fleeing comfortable apartments and running to get into the city shelters instead. In response to the ruling (caught on video by NY1), he said “We’re going to do everything we can to have the ability to do it or let the judges explain to the public why they think that you should just have a right to walk in and say, ‘Whether or not I need services, give it to me.’ I don’t think that’s what this country’s all about.”

Perhaps if Bloomberg doesn’t want people to use the shelter system, perhaps they should turn the 3,500 vacant buildings in the city (as recently counted by Picture the Homeless) into affordable housing in the first place.

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