Jordan Neely died for want of a conservatorship

This week on the pod we discuss what Finding Jordan Neely tells us about homelessness and conservatorship.

In May 2023 ex-Marine Daniel Penny put Jordan Neely in a fatal chokehold on a NYC subway car. The article details Neely’s path from a rough childhood to becoming known around New York as a Michael Jackson impersonator. It chronicles his years-long struggle with drug addiction and severe mental illness, which were exacerbated by stints of homelessness and incarceration. Neely was a known danger to himself and others and had a warrant out for his arrest at the time of his death.

More affordable housing is the primary solution to homelessness. But even with more affordable housing and cash assistance, there will still be individuals who are unable to care for themselves without help. Conservatorship is the process by which a judge assigns a person a conservator who helps them manage aspects of life they cannot manage on their own, generally due to severe mental illness, addiction, and/or disability.

Conservatorship, like any system, can be abused. However, Neely’s tragic life story illustrates how allowing individuals to deteriorate without intervention is inhumane to them and dangerous to others.

Currently, jails function as de facto psychiatric treatment centers. Neely actually thrived in jail. He, like many, needed more intensive care than what voluntary programs can provide.

Things could have turned out completely differently for Neely if he’d had a conservatorship.

To learn more about conservatorship, check out our podcast with Mike Tanner and stay tuned for an upcoming episode where we will have Zach Anderson back on the pod to speak further about conservatorship.