Legal Aid, Coalition for the Homeless Decry Mayor’s Comments on Asylum Seekers Adding to the City’s Spiraling Homelessness Crisis Advocates Also Condemn Continued Encampment Sweeps, Call on City Hall to Appropriate More Funding to Bolster Affordable Housing Development (NEW YORK, NY) – The Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless released the following statement in response to Mayor Eric Adams’ comments on asylum seekers adding to New York City’s spiraling homelessness crisis: “Let’s be clear: the growing shelter census crisis squarely falls at the Mayor’s feet, and asylum seekers shouldn’t shoulder the blame for this. So long as City Hall allows bureaucratic obstacles to remain in place, hampering our clients’ ability to transition from shelters to long-term and safe affordable housing – which remains in scant supply – this crisis won’t abate anytime soon, and we call for more funding to develop housing truly affordable for our homeless neighbors. Lastly, we condemn the Administration’s continued militarized encampment sweeps which inflict trauma, create conflict, and separate our clients from what few belongings they own. This inhumane policy defines the Adams Administration, and it tarnishes New York’s reputation as an ostensibly progressive city with empathy for our fellow human beings.” Contact: Redmond HaskinsThe Legal Aid Societyrhaskins@legal-aid.org(929) 441-2384 Coalition for the Homeless press@cfthomeless.org
