New York Focus and ProPublica investigated temporary housing for welfare recipients by analyzing 1.1 million payment records from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance. The data revealed significant use of hotels for emergency housing, necessitating clarity on the recipients' identities and durations of stay. After delays in data release from OTDA, which lasted ten months until ProPublica's legal involvement facilitated access, the researchers focused solely on direct hotel payments, excluding nonprofit shelter payments, to understand the trend of using hotels for temporary accommodations effectively.
To track temporary housing recipients placed in hotels, New York Focus and ProPublica accessed 1.1 million payment records from the New York Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance.
The analysis only includes payments classified as hotel payments, excluding those for nonprofits running shelters, to focus on direct housing for welfare recipients.
The OTDA delayed the data release for 10 months until ProPublica intervened, reflecting challenges of transparency in public assistance programs and the need for oversight.
By analyzing hotel data, the investigation found significant use of hotels for emergency housing, revealing a critical aspect of sheltering practices in New York.
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