N.Y. governor hastens plan to get mental health workers in subways after fatal shove
Summary
Simon Martial, 61, a homeless man who police said has a history of mental illness, randomly targeted Go after trying to push another woman who escaped his grasp. A Request for Proposals for nonprofit organizations to operate the specialized teams, which will consist of direct outreach workers as well as clinicians, was issued on Friday. Members of the teams will canvas the subways and stations in an attempt to convince homeless people living in the system to move into shelters in the hopes that they can eventually secure permanent housing. Overseen by the state Office of Mental Health, Hochul hopes to send out up to 20 teams of eight to 10 workers this year, including four in the city by early Spring. Adams said the additional cops will be instructed to not engage with homeless New Yorkers and instead contact SOS teams to conduct outreach and refer them to city-run shelters and services.