The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has recently announced an ambitious initiative to enhance the quality of shelter services by establishing 12 new shelters across the five boroughs. This initiative aims to transition families with children out of commercial hotels and substandard locations, improving their living conditions. The new shelters are set to open progressively between 2027 and 2030, with the planned distribution comprising four in Manhattan, three in Brooklyn, three in Queens, one in the Bronx, and one on Staten Island.
The city government has designed this plan under Emergency Executive Order No. 2 (EEO2). The intent is to expand the capacity of approved family shelters, allowing families currently residing in commercial hotels to move into accommodations that are more spacious and stable. This effort is crucial to alleviate the negative impacts on children’s education and daily lives caused by frequent relocations.
These new shelters are specifically geared towards families with minor children and are expected to transcend the limitations of commercial hotels. They will come equipped with independent kitchens, bathrooms, and other essential amenities aimed at safeguarding the welfare of children. Lisa Henderson, the Commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services, emphasized the city’s commitment to working closely with the New York City public schools to ensure that children can continue their education in familiar settings. This will allow parents to focus on finding permanent housing without the added stress of frequent disruptions.
In addition to the establishment of new family shelters, the administration is concurrently pursuing reforms in other aspects of the shelter system. These include improving safety and facility conditions at the adult male shelter on West 30th Street in Manhattan, gradually closing the large-scale emergency shelter for immigrants on Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, and alleviating the overcrowding pressures in single adult shelters.
While the city government insists that the new plans will enhance the living conditions for families experiencing homelessness and result in fiscal savings, some local elected officials and community members have expressed concerns regarding certain proposed locations. Currently, the official addresses of the 12 shelters have not been disclosed, although it has been confirmed that the old Bayley Seton Hospital site on Staten Island will house 200 families with children.
Furthermore, some council members have raised alarms about specific shelter sites. Council Member Mercedes Narcisse from South Brooklyn took to social media to announce that a rally would be held on the evening of Monday, November 9, to protest the city’s plans for establishing a 200-bed adult male homeless shelter at 945 East 108th Street. She pointed out that the site is in close proximity to a local middle school and criticized the city for failing to inform or consult the community prior to finalizing the plan, a lack of transparency that has sparked dissatisfaction among residents. Similarly, Council Member Yuh-Line Niou from Queens disclosed plans for a 165-bed shelter for single adult men to be established in the Maspeth area. Meanwhile, in the Bensonhurst Chinese community, Council Member Ling Ling Chang reported that her office has yet to receive any notification from the city regarding the new shelter sites.
It is important to note, however, that the adult shelter projects mentioned by these council members may not necessarily be part of the same initiative that involves the new shelters for families with children.
To address local concerns, the Department of Homeless Services has committed to holding community meetings for each shelter before they officially open. This will ensure that shelter providers, community members, and stakeholders have ample opportunities to receive information and provide feedback.