Controversies Surrounding Homelessness, Migration, and Advocacy in New York

Homeless men in Poughkeepsie, New York, were recruited to pose as displaced veterans for a fake story. They were promised $100 for two or three hours of work, but instead were taken to a diner and then to a building where they were asked to tell a concocted story about being kicked out of a hotel. The recruiters, who appeared to be prior residents of the shelter, were allegedly working with the CEO of a nonprofit formed to help homeless and low-income military service veterans. The men were not paid and described the experience as a well-orchestrated scam.