Joint Statement from Legal Aid, Coalition for the Homeless on the City Sheltering Multiple families with Children at the NYPD’s Former Police Academy Building in Manhattan

(NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society and Coalition for the Homeless released the following joint statement on the City sheltering families with children at the New York City Police Department’s former police academy building in Manhattan:

“Late last night, we learned that the City had multiple families with children sheltering at the NYPD’s former police academy building in Manhattan, a facility only appropriate for single adult men.

“The City cannot shelter families with children in congregate settings. Private sleeping quarters are required for families’ safety, for mothers to privately nurse newborns, to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases, and to prevent sexual assault. The City assured us that these families would today receive appropriate shelter placements.

“While we understand the gravity of this situation, and appreciate the Administration’s outreach and transparency with us on this issue, the City still has a legal obligation to comply with local law and multiple court orders to ensure that anyone, including asylum seekers, have appropriate shelter.

“With additional funding now coming from Albany, we urge City officials to use these resources to secure needed hotel rooms for recently arrived asylum seekers, and to loosen restrictions on housing vouchers to transition New Yorkers already residing in shelters to permanent housing, bolstering shelter capacity available to help meet the demand.

“As more and more buses from the border arrive each day, and with the sunsetting of Title 42 later this week, we’ll continue working with the City to ensure full compliance with Right to Shelter and that our clients’ needs are being addressed.”