Vallone Is Latest Councilmember to Rally Against District Homeless Shelter

By David Brand

Councilmember Paul Vallone opposes a new homeless shelter in his district. // Photo courtesy of Paul Vallone’s office

Councilmember Paul Vallone joined State Sen. Tony Avella, Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal and other local leaders to oppose a proposed homeless shelter in College Point at a rally Monday night.

Rumors of a proposed shelter at 127-03 20th Avenue prompted Vallone to contact the Department of Homeless Services, which said that the city has issued a request for proposal to develop a shelter at the site.

“As we’ve seen time and time again, the DHS is acting with a complete lack of community involvement, foregoing any input or dialogue with our civic leaders and elected officials,” Vallone said at the rally. “What's worse, the city's policy for siting shelters allows greedy developers to profit from the homelessness crisis while displaying wanton disregard for the effect on our community.”

In recent months, Councilmember Robert Holden has fiercely condemned a plan to a develop a homeless shelter at an abandoned factory in Middle Village and Councilmember Eric Ulrich has opposed a proposed shelter in Ozone Park.

On Sunday night, 60,957 people, including 22,546 children, stayed in a New York City homeless shelter, according to the DHS daily shelter census report.

According to an Oct. 31, 2017 report by DHS, there were 147 people who gave their most recent address as a zip code inside Queens Community Board 7, which encompasses College Point.

By press time Tuesday, Vallone’s office did not respond to request for information about whether Vallone favored siting a shelter at a different College Point.