'Everyone Should Feel Guilty' After Stabbing Of Homeless Man: Pol

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — Two days after a homeless man was stabbed to death on a Washington Heights street corner, Council Member Ydanis Rodriguez talked with Patch about the incident and how it relates to the lack of help people experiencing homelessness are getting in New York City.

Jose Albarenga, 37, was found lying on the sidewalk of West 175th Street and Wadsworth Avenue Tuesday with stab wounds to his chest, according to police.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The New York Police Department listed Corona, Queens, as Albarenga's home, but the New York Daily News reported that neighbors said he was homeless and had been living in the area for almost two years. Rodriguez also described Albarenga as homeless.

Rodriguez, whose district covers Inwood and Washington Heights, didn't mince words.

"It reflects the level of violence we still have to deal within our society, but especially I think everyone should feel guilty for not being able to put a plan together to help the homeless population by connecting them to quality help services that they need, and that can make a difference for them to reorganize their life and continue being productive in our society," Rodriguez told Patch.

The coronavirus pandemic has caused a surge in the homeless population in New York City. The city has also deployed hotels as temporary shelters to provide more ability to social distance.

Rodriguez sees three main areas where the city can improve the quality of life for people experiencing homelessness: more financial federal support, the combination of a public and private partnership, and building more affordable housing.

"The need to develop affordable housing is still something we have as a challenge today," Rodriguez said. "This is something that this administration and any mayor to come also should have a stronger commitment to bring more investment to build affordable housing."

Additionally, Rodriguez emphasized the importance of homeless shelters having a strong network of services for residents.

"All of them should have enough social workers, enough services for mental health to connect them with training that can allow them to get back into the working force of our city," Rodriguez said.

When asked about the amount of attention that the homeless population on the Upper West Side has gotten for city officials and the media in recent months — compared with Inwood and Washington Heights — he kept his answer straightforward.

"New York City has a big responsibility to address the crisis of homelessness regardless of the socioeconomic community where temporary shelters are located," Rodriguez said.

Referencing how New York City has "released thousands of individuals from the prison system" in the past decade — something he fully supports — Rodriguez said the city has not connected those people to the mental health services they need to succeed.

"It has created a situation, unfortunately, that has arrived at a point where we are seeing so many people living in our streets and camping out at places like High Bridge Park in a way that, unfortunately, makes people live with the risk of losing their life," Rodriguez said. "As a homeless person lost their life at 175th and Wadsworth."

Read More: Man Stabbed To Death On Washington Heights Street Corner: Police