{"id":2573495,"date":"2026-02-25T11:37:02","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:37:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-nyc-social-services-head-reduced-pittsburgh-homelessness\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T11:39:28","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T16:39:28","slug":"new-nyc-social-services-head-reduced-pittsburgh-homelessness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/new-nyc-social-services-head-reduced-pittsburgh-homelessness\/","title":{"rendered":"New NYC social services head reduced Pittsburgh homelessness"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">16<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fnew-nyc-social-services-head-reduced-pittsburgh-homelessness%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2573495&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Zohran Mamdani appointed Erin Dalton, the former head of Allegheny County\u2019s social services in the Pittsburgh area, too run New York City\u2019s Department of Social Services. Dalton is noted for reducing homeless encampments through persistent outreach and non-punitive approaches rather than jail threats.The hire signals a shift toward humane, outreach-driven solutions to homelessness and aligns with Mamdani\u2019s later stance on <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >avoiding blanket encampment sweeps<\/a>, placing oversight of such efforts with the Department of Homeless Services rather than the police.The appointment comes <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/education-not-indoctrination-uk-minister-demands-schools-uphold-political-impartiality\/\" title=\"&#039;Education, Not Indoctrination&#039;: UK Minister Demands Schools Uphold Political Impartiality\">amid ongoing controversy<\/a> over how the city handles homelessness and after the resignation of Molly Wasow Park, NYC\u2019s previous social services head, during a period when a notable number of homeless individuals died in cold weather (at least 19 deaths reported, with 15 attributed to hypothermia). Dalton\u2019s start date has not yet been announced. A September 2025 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette op-ed praised Dalton\u2019s record, noting that in Allegheny County more than 80% of about 250 homeless people moved into shelter or housing through outreach, with no one jailed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Mamdani hires social services head who cracked down on homeless encampments<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2509178\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>The new head of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/new-york-city\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"286\">New York City<\/a> Department of Social Services, hired by Mayor <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/zohran-mamdani\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11802\">Zohran Mamdani<\/a>, will lean on her prior experience with addressing homeless encampments in the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pittsburgh\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11198\">Pittsburgh<\/a> area.<\/p>\n<p>Erin Dalton previously led the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/universal-basic-income-hits-the-bay-area-if-youre-black\/\" title=\"Universal Basic Income Hits the Bay Area\u2014If You\u2019re Black\">social services department<\/a> in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, where she helped reduce homeless encampments by working with outreach partners without threatening jail time for the unsheltered. In her role, she will likely use the same tactic that helped Pittsburgh succeed in this matter.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4471532\/hegseth-appeals-block-punish-mark-kelly-illegal-orders-video\/\">Hegseth appeals ruling blocking punishment for Kelly over &#8216;illegal&#8217; orders video<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4471497\/schumer-defends-democrats-refused-stand-trump-state-of-the-union\/\">Schumer defends Democrats who refused to stand during Trump State of the Union<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/business\/4471425\/bill-gates-apologizes-foundation-staff-jeffrey-epstein-relationship\/\">Bill Gates apologized to staff over Epstein ties. What was their relationship?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>With the new appointment <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/mayors-office\/news\/2026\/02\/mayor-mamdani-appoints-erin-dalton-as-commissioner-of-department\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.nyc.gov\/mayors-office\/news\/2026\/02\/mayor-mamdani-appoints-erin-dalton-as-commissioner-of-department\">announced on Wednesday<\/a>, Mamdani appears to be relying on a fresh vision to tackle New York City&rsquo;s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/homelessness\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1928\">homelessness<\/a> crisis.<\/p>\n<p>The mayor ordered the city last week to restart sweeps of homeless encampments, a practice he once criticized as ineffective in leading to long-term housing for the homeless. He also placed the city&rsquo;s Department of Homeless Services in charge of the sweeps instead of the police department.<\/p>\n<p>Mamdani initially ended the homeless encampment sweeps, five days into taking office in January, but he later backtracked. He is now facing backlash from homelessness advocates over the new policy.<\/p>\n<p>Dalton&rsquo;s appointment may allay those concerns given her proven track record on dismantling encampments in an ethical and humane manner.<\/p>\n<p>In a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.post-gazette.com\/opinion\/guest-columns\/2025\/09\/10\/pittsburgh-allegheny-county-homeless-encampments-housing-erin-dalton\/stories\/202509070119\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.post-gazette.com\/opinion\/guest-columns\/2025\/09\/10\/pittsburgh-allegheny-county-homeless-encampments-housing-erin-dalton\/stories\/202509070119\">September 2025 op-ed<\/a> for the <em>Pittsburgh Post-Gazette<\/em>, Dalton said Allegheny County and Pittsburgh helped more than 80% of 250 homeless people move into shelter or housing through constant outreach.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;The rest either relocated on their own or already had found a place. And no one was taken to jail as a condition of leaving the camp,&rdquo; she wrote.<\/p>\n<p>Dalton also blamed the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"339\">Trump administration<\/a> for promoting &ldquo;misleading&rdquo; and &ldquo;dangerous&rdquo; rhetoric about &ldquo;equating homelessness with crime, suggesting we can arrest our way out of the problem.&rdquo; In place of such rhetoric, she prefers to handle homelessness with &ldquo;respect and dignity.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this month, New York City&rsquo;s previous social services commissioner, Molly Wasow Park, resigned as the city recorded at least 19 deaths amid a significant winter storm. The city&rsquo;s chief medical examiner recently determined that 15 people died from &ldquo;hypothermia due to environmental exposure to cold&rdquo; between Jan. 24 and Feb. 7. Many of them were found outside, suggesting they were homeless.<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4452211\/new-york-city-social-services-head-resigns-18-people-died-cold-weather\/\" type=\"link\" id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4452211\/new-york-city-social-services-head-resigns-18-people-died-cold-weather\/\">NEW YORK CITY SOCIAL SERVICES HEAD RESIGNS AS 18 PEOPLE DIED FROM COLD WEATHER<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Park, a holdover from the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/eric-adams\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"3303\">Eric Adams<\/a> administration, said she wanted to stay in the role but felt that her resignation would be the &ldquo;right thing for everybody.&rdquo; Her departure was reportedly unrelated to the winter-related deaths, as Mamdani was already considering her replacement.<\/p>\n<p>A press release from the mayor&rsquo;s office did not specify a date for when Dalton will assume the new role. The appointed commissioner said she &ldquo;can&rsquo;t wait to get started.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mamdani taps Dalton to lead NYC DSS on humane camps<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2573496,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26050610301255.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[11561,50402,70082,4326,74558],"class_list":["post-2573495","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-homelessness","tag-leadership-2","tag-new-york-city-2","tag-policy","tag-social-services-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AP26050610301255.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573495","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2573495"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573495\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2573499,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2573495\/revisions\/2573499"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2573496"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2573495"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2573495"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2573495"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}