Tensions grow over men's shelter coming to Crown Heights
The 110-bed general men’s shelter is said to be for working people who can’t afford rent. Case management and housing coordinators will be available at the shelter, as well as 24-hour hired security officers.
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Tensions are rising in Crown Heights, after residents packed a town hall meeting to voice their opposition to a proposed men’s shelter inside a local hotel.
Neighbors say they were given just 30 days' notice and believe their community is being overburdened.
The 110-bed general men’s shelter is said to be for working people who can’t afford rent. Case management and housing coordinators will be available at the shelter, as well as 24-hour hired security officers.
The location, at the Ramada Wynn hotel on Empire Boulevard, sits next door to an adult daycare center. It is also blocks away from several schools and close to two other existing shelters.
Residents say their opposition is more than just a safety matter. They’ve had their fair share of shelters in Crown Heights already, which is nowhere near the same as other neighborhoods across the city.
Yet, city officials at the town hall meeting said they were still in the process of conducting a "fair share" analysis, part of the city charter that requires equitable placement of such facilities.
Officials say the city’s shelter system is under immense pressure, especially after having to close down one facility. However, the Department of Social Services and the shelter ’s operator, Project Renewal, say this isn’t their first rodeo. They’re prepared to work with the community as much as possible.
A spokesperson for DSS said in the first 30 days of opening the shelter, a community advisory board would be formed.
The opening date for the shelter will be sometime this summer.
