Homeless Families Are Not Lab Rats

Homeless Families Are Not Lab Rats

The Issue

New York families at risk of homelessness are being subjected to a cruel experiment. 

The director of the City University of New York's Center for Urban Research, John Mollenkopf, is conducting a study — endorsed by the city's Department of Homeless Services — that randomly assigns 200 families to a program that includes housing assistance, job training and more. 

The lab rats are the 200 other needy families who are barred from services in order to be the control group. Researchers will track them for the purposes of seeing who ends up in shelters and who can find help on their own. 

Tell the researchers and the commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services that these families aren't lab rats and urge them to end the experiment today!

Photo credit: jepoirrier

This petition had 2,756 supporters

The Issue

New York families at risk of homelessness are being subjected to a cruel experiment. 

The director of the City University of New York's Center for Urban Research, John Mollenkopf, is conducting a study — endorsed by the city's Department of Homeless Services — that randomly assigns 200 families to a program that includes housing assistance, job training and more. 

The lab rats are the 200 other needy families who are barred from services in order to be the control group. Researchers will track them for the purposes of seeing who ends up in shelters and who can find help on their own. 

Tell the researchers and the commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services that these families aren't lab rats and urge them to end the experiment today!

Photo credit: jepoirrier

The Decision Makers

Seth Diamond
Seth Diamond
Department of Homeless Services Commissioner
John Mollenkopf
John Mollenkopf
Center for Urban Research Director

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Petition created on October 2, 2010