Despite years of protests by the residents of Chinatown, the homeless shelter at 91 East Broadway is still set to open. However, local residents are still in the midst of their resistance, and their appeal case will be heard in court in August.
According to community sources, the renovation of the shelter has recently been completed, all partitions have been removed, and the lights are on at night, indicating an imminent official opening.
Yukin Kam, the chairman of the New York East Chinese Association who has been leading the residents in protest, stated that 91 East Broadway used to be a hotel that closed down due to poor business, and was later sold to a company that operates homeless shelters.
The “Greater Chinatown Civil Rights Alliance” and other community organizations have held multiple demonstrations and protests, engaging in negotiations with the shelter authorities, but to no avail. The operators of the shelter have refused to make any compromises with the Chinese community, insisting on opening the homeless shelter and a homeless medical center.
Kam mentioned that the homeless medical center will be open to homeless individuals throughout the city, which will bring in homeless individuals with various illnesses, posing a significant health threat to the local residents.
However, due to the residents’ protests, although the shelter at 91 East Broadway is still in operation, the plans for three other homeless shelters that were intended to open in Chinatown have all been abandoned due to the backlash from the protests.
“This can be considered somewhat effective,” Kam said. “Further protest activities are being planned.”
He revealed that the appeal case of the “Greater Chinatown Civil Rights Alliance” is scheduled to be heard in court in August, emphasizing the ongoing efforts to fight against the establishment of homeless shelters in the Chinatown area.