Mayor Adams’ new $650 million plan for mental health raises questions about his past commitments and effectiveness in addressing homelessness.

Adams’ big focus this time was on tackling homelessness in the streets and subways. He proposed a hefty $650 million investment over five years, targeting three initiatives aimed at helping the homeless, especially those causing public disorder and crime.
One of his proposals includes adding 900 more “safe haven” shelter beds, bringing the total to 4,900. These shelters offer single rooms and personalized support, making them more appealing to those who avoid traditional shelters due to safety concerns. Another plan is to create a 100-bed facility specifically for homeless individuals with serious mental health issues.
While these ideas sound good, the way they were presented shows some of the mayor’s shortcomings. He didn’t provide a timeline or location for the new psychiatric facility, which is concerning given his track record. So far, his major public works project, revamping Fifth Avenue, won’t even kick off until 2028.
It feels a bit late to be rolling out these plans. Sure, a mayor doesn’t have to lay out everything on day one, but Adams and the governor have been talking about addressing the crisis of mentally ill homeless people since 2022.
On his sixth day in office, Adams stood with Governor Hochul, promising to tackle serious crime, especially in the subway. A month later, after a tragic incident where a woman was pushed to her death, they announced a comprehensive subway safety plan focusing on homelessness and mental health.
But New Yorkers are still waiting for visible progress. Last year was the deadliest for subway homicides since the mid-90s, and with the anniversary of that tragic incident approaching, patience is wearing thin.
Adams mentioned that his initiatives have helped 8,000 people, but many are left wondering when they’ll see safer subways. His third initiative in the $650 million plan seems out of place. He announced a commitment to families, stating that no child should be born in a shelter, which is a nice sentiment but not very practical.
Encouraging people to have children while in shelters as a way to secure housing doesn’t seem like the best approach. By mixing this idea with the other two, Adams appears to be trying to appease his critics, but it raises questions about priorities.
As voters head to the polls in June, they’ll have to decide if they want more of Adams’ approach, which has been a mix of progress and setbacks, or if they prefer a challenger with potentially more expansive social policies.
Adams needs to show real progress on key issues like homelessness and public safety. He reminded everyone during his speech that they promised to end the days of people suffering on the streets and subways. But New Yorkers are still left asking: When will that actually happen?