July 7, 2023 (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless issued the following joint statement in response to the City sheltering multiple newly arrived families with children in a congregate setting while awaiting longer-term placements: “The City informed us that over the last two weeks families with children have been placed in a congregate setting at one of the hotels, a clear violation of law. The families are assigned to cots, separated from other families by moveable divider screens. “It is neither appropriate nor lawful for the City to shelter families with children in congregate settings. Private sleeping quarters are needed to ensure these families’ privacy, for parents to nurse newborns, to reduce any transmission of infectious disease, and to protect against sexual assault. City officials have stated that their current plan is for these families to spend no more than one night in congregate settings and then transitioned to more appropriate placements the next day. “However, we remain deeply concerned that available shelter capacity and staffing will not meet the moment and it is imperative that the City, State, and Federal governments immediately do more. “Both the Biden Administration and Congress can and must provide more resources to shelter the new arrivals and grant them full work authorization. In addition, Governor Hochul along with the Legislature must step up and employ the full resources and authorities of the State to assist with this situation. “We echo Mayor Adams’ call to Washington and Albany for additional resources to ensure the lawful and humane placement of all people, including the new arrivals, who seek refuge in New York.”
