H.S.I. describes itself in the following fairly benign ways in a recent audited financial statement found on the NYC Charities Registry:

From: HOUSING AND SERVICES, INC.... COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS... YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2010
'The organization operates and develops permanent supportive and affordable housing."

"Property management services: H.S.I. provides property management and administrative services to the low income permanent supportive housing projects known as Cecil Hotel, Kenmore Hall and Narragansett Hotel. The projects are controlled by H.S.I. through a commonality of trustees and officers."

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1:
"The organization works toward ending chronic homelessness, preventing homelessness for persons threatened with displacement and improving housing conditions for the marginalized through the operation and development of permanent supportive and affordable housing. The organization helps its clients achieve their fullest potential for housing self-sufficiency by realistically assessing their individual needs and building respectful and caring supportive communities to overcome barriers to their success."

KENMORE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION: "Operation of low income supportive housing project.":

The phrase supportive housing is used three times in the above quotes, but nowhere does it say that tenants are obligated to use the social services offered, or that the social services are mandatory. There is one key phrase referring to "building respectful and caring supportive communities..."; the key word here being respectful. There is nothing respectful in the attitude of the newer social workers, Jan Principato and Beverly Clarke. They are hostile, aggressive, and rude - and they make no effort to assess the individual needs of tenants at all. Rather, they appear to prefer the idea of forcing tenants to fit into pre-set categories of substance abuse, mental illness, or a history of incarceration. There are many other reasons for homelessness that should be acknowledged, and they are legitimate reasons that don't further stigmatize tenants or profile them in negative ways. It's interesting to note that Jen Principato is leaving in early April 2014; she's only been associated with H.S.I. and Kenmore Hall since the end of September/early October 2013. Rumor has it that she's moving on to work with incarcerated people. I feel sorry for prisoners that will have her up in their faces; we can walk away from her - they'll be stuck with her.