USANewsOnline.Com Desk, New York, NY—January 10, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced the closure of the Hall Street Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center (HERRC), a 3,500-capacity congregate shelter for immigrant men in Brooklyn, and other smaller shelters. The City will also be opening a 2,200-capacity shelter for immigrant men in the Bronx.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“When we invest in the future success of New Yorkers, we invest in the future success of our entire city. While we are glad that large congregate settings like Hall Street are being closed, we expected that the city would do more to move people to safer and more stable longterm housing. Instead, Adams seems determined to play an extended game of shelter whack-a-mole, where the City shuffles people from shelter to shelter without regard to schooling, family stability or proximity to people’s work opportunities – this also includes opening another massive congregate setting shelter. It’s outrageous and alarming, especially when the city can expand access to CityFHEPS housing vouchers to New Yorkers so people can put roots down in a community and truly start building their lives. Additionally, the City must make further investments in legal services to get people on the pathway to legal status and work authorizations. And we must end the arbitrary 30- and 60-day shelter evictions that needlessly interrupt the stability that our newest neighbors are working so hard to create. Giving people the tools to thrive will give them the opportunity to build our economy and culture, creating the future we all deserve.” Press Release.