Investigation into Two Allegations Concerning Data Maintenance and Reporting at the Department of Homeless Services PATH Intake Center
Department of Investigation · report
DOI investigated two separate allegations involving the Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) intake center, a Bronx facility run by the Department of Homeless Services under the Department of Social Services. First, DOI examined a July 2022 incident in which families remained at PATH overnight in violation of the 'ten-to-four Rule' and found gaps in PATH recordkeeping and a lack of full transparency by former DSS Commissioner Gary Jenkins. Second, DOI substantiated that from 2017 to early-to-mid 2022 DHS staff artificially lowered the publicly-reported Monthly Eligibility Rate by delaying eligibility determinations. DOI made six recommendations to improve DSS recordkeeping, training, and data integrity.
- Released
- 2024-01-09
- Kind
- Investigation
Key findings
- DOI found significant gaps in PATH's recordkeeping of families' entry and exit times, and deficiencies in DSS compliance and staff training on the ten-to-four Rule, which left DSS and City leadership unaware of additional rule violations. p. 1
- DOI identified a total of 11 violations of the ten-to-four Rule on and before July 18, 2022, six more than City leadership was aware of as of August 2022; recordkeeping failures prevented DOI from determining with certainty how many families stayed overnight. p. 2
- The investigation exposed a lack of full transparency by former DSS Commissioner Gary Jenkins in his initial discussions with City Hall about the July 18 incident. p. 2
- DOI substantiated that from June 2017 through early-to-mid 2022, DHS Administrator Joslyn Carter and subordinates acting at her direction artificially lowered PATH's publicly-reported Monthly Eligibility Rate by delaying final eligibility determinations without legitimate reason. p. 2
- Administrator Carter said she acted at the direction of former DSS Commissioner Steven Banks, who acknowledged discussing the rate with then-Mayor Bill de Blasio but denied directing or knowing of any manipulation; DOI could not corroborate the claim that Banks directed the manipulation. p. 2
- Witnesses told DOI the manipulation did not change ultimate eligibility outcomes or cause any eligible family to be denied shelter, though it could have delayed families' transition from shelter into permanent housing. p. 2
What DOI recommended
- DSS should design and implement a process to ensure families' arrival and departure times at PATH are consistently and accurately documented. p. 3
- The documentation process should be fully automated. p. 3
- DSS should conduct regular audits to ensure the documentation process functions as intended and that client movements into, within, and out of PATH are easily discernible. p. 3
- DSS should create a written procedure detailing the right to shelter for homeless families with minor children, including provisions on reporting ten-to-four Rule violations up the chain to DHS/DSS leadership, City Hall, and the public. p. 3
- DSS should provide regular training to PATH staff and DHS/DSS leadership on the right to shelter and DHS's related obligations and policies. p. 3
- DSS should design and implement an internal audit process to ensure the integrity of all data that DHS makes public. p. 3
Entities in this report
- Department of Homeless Services Subject
- Department of Social Services Subject
- PATH Intake Center
- NYC Open Data
- The Legal Aid Society
- Coalition for the Homeless, Inc.