Local church leaders back Douglaston shelter plan
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The Department of Homeless Services plans to build a 72-bed homeless shelter at 243-02 Northern Blvd. Google Maps
By David Brand
A local church is stepping in to support a planned homeless women’s shelter in Douglaston amid opposition from some residents and civic groups.
In a letter to Queens Community Board 11, clergy and leaders of the Zion Episcopal Church on Northern Boulevard say they welcome the women who will stay at the first shelter planned for the district, though they say more affordable housing and stronger social services are necessary for addressing New York City’s homelessness crisis.
“While we agree that some aspects of the City's policies and priorities on homelessness are problematic, we welcome our new neighbors,” wrote Zion Episcopal leaders in the letter dated Feb. 18. “We believe that the opportunities and challenges presented by the shelter will be a gain for the Little Neck-Douglaston community.”
The letter is signed by church rector Rev. Lindsay Lunnum and deacon Rev. Carl Adair, as well as wardens Joanne Martell and Marguerite Lebron and nine members of the church vestry. The planned 72-bed shelter at 243-02 Northern Blvd., near the Zion Episcopal church, and will house women 50 and older and will be operated by the agency Samaritan Village.
The leaders submitted the letter to be read at a Community Board 11 meeting Monday night.
More than 4,500 single adult women stayed in a Department of Homeless Services shelter on Feb. 25, there are no homeless shelters in Queens Community District 11.
“A transitional shelter is something our neighbors need now,” the Zion Episcopal leaders wrote. “The choice to welcome our new neighbors and to partner with Samaritan Village to meet their needs is part of our long standing commitment to our community and our Christian mission.”
The plan, announced by DHS in December 2020, has encountered intense criticism from many local residents. An online petition opposing the location and describing the historic character of the community has received nearly 4,000 signatures.
The petition was created by Douglaston Civic Association Chairperson Dawn Anatra and invokes the by-now routine criticisms of city shelter siting: A lack of community input, a location too close to a school and a lack of public transit.
“We feel the location of this shelter is concerning due to the lack of transportation and being located so close to Divine Wisdom Academy elementary school,” Anatra wrote.
But Community Board 11 leaders have resisted the opposition, Patch reported last month.
“When it comes to location in particular and making that part of our argument at this point, to me, what that's saying is, frankly, not in my backyard,” said Queens Community Board 11 Chair Mike Budabin during a meeting. “You want to be a great community? You got to do things you don't always want to do.”
