A Broken System for Housing the Homeless

The Daily

The New York Times

Daily News, News

4.4 • 102.8K Ratings

🗓️ 11 February 2021

⏱️ 32 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

This episode contains descriptions of sexual violence. Victor Rivera has framed his life story as one of redemption and salvation. Escaping homelessness and drug addiction, he founded the Bronx Parent Housing Network, one of the largest nonprofits operating homeless shelters in New York City. But that’s not the whole story. A Times investigation has found a pattern of allegations of sexual abuse and financial misconduct against him during his career. We look at the accusations against Mr. Rivera and ask what lessons can be learned.

Transcript

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0:25.6	From New York Times, I'm Michael Bavaro.
0:32.6	This is Daily.
0:37.6	As cities across the country struggle with a crisis of homelessness, and as New York's
0:46.3	crisis threatens to grow because of the economic fallout from the pandemic, the city has made
0:52.6	a $2 billion a year commitment to ensuring that everybody has a place to stay.
0:59.6	Today, Michaelic, Amy Julia Harris, on how a system meant to help the most vulnerable
1:07.5	people in New York, has been left open to exploitation and abuse.
1:25.5	It's Thursday, February 11th.
1:34.5	Amy Julia, how did you first get involved in this story?
1:39.5	In July 2019, I received an anonymous tip that was sent to the New York Times that basically
1:49.7	said you should look into this guy named Victor Rivera, who operates a network of homeless
1:55.3	shelters and look into the way that he treats women and spends money.
2:01.3	It was a little bit of a big tip and that peaked my interest and I wanted to learn more.
2:10.0	Who did you turn out to be?
2:12.6	He is the head of a nonprofit called the Bronx Parent Housing Network, which is one of the
	...

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