Controversial College Point homeless shelter set to open this week
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A new homeless shelter will be located at 127-03 20th Ave. in College Point, seen here in a 2017 photo. Photo via Google Maps
By Victoria Merlino
A controversial College Point women’s homeless shelter is set to open this week, following community outcry against the Department of Homeless Services’ original plan to have it be a 200-bed shelter for men.
“From the outset, the residents of College Point have been unequivocal that a shelter for 200 single men would be wholly inappropriate for this residential site in close proximity to several schools,” area State Sen. John Liu said in a statement.
“The community remained diligent, vigilant and united and has now successfully secured the conversion to a shelter for women, rather than single men. Although the plan is by no means perfect, we are satisfied that a far better outcome has been achieved,” he continued.
DHS announced that it would establish a men’s homeless shelter in College Point in December 2018, part of Mayor Bill de Blasio’s long term plan to curb homelessness in New York City, “Turning the Tide on Homelessness.” The plan, launched in 2017, seeks to eliminate the use of cluster apartments and commercial hotels to house the homeless, instead building 90 new shelters that would house the homeless closer to their communities.
Queens has the most shelter residents housed in commercial hotels, according to a report from the Mayor’s Office. Last Thursday, there were 59,841 homeless people sleeping in New York City’s shelter system, including 21,620 homeless children, according to the most recent update of DHS’ daily shelter census.
College Point residents expressed concerns about the plan and the shelter’s proximity to schools and residential neighborhoods from the outset, with hundreds rallying against it multiple times.
A group of residents even formed a coalition and hired an attorney, E. Christopher Murray of Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, to sue DHS and potentially block the plan.
"This is not what we demanded, certainly it’s not what we hoped for,” Michael Deng, a member of the College Point Residents’ Coalition, said in a statement. “However, we do feel that a women’s shelter will be better and is a less intimidating fit for the community, particularly the elderly, women and school kids, as their safety is what we are most worried and concerned about.”
“I am relieved,” he said.
Murray did not immediately respond to the Eagle’s request for comment about this story.
Area politicians, including Liu, Councilmember Paul Vallone and Assemblymember Daniel Rosenthal, supported residents as they argued against the shelter.
Borough President and the Queens District Attorney candidate Melinda Katz also spoke out against the placement of the shelter in a letter to de Blasio.
DHS did not immediately respond to a request for comment about this story.
Glendale and Middle Village residents similarly rebuked a proposed homeless shelter in their area last year, raising over $8,500 to oppose the plan.
