NYC Homeless Shelter Plans Spark Community Concerns
New York City intends to relocate 110 single homeless men to a Brooklyn shelter without performing criminal background checks, raising alarms among local residents who worry this could lead to increased crime in their neighborhood.
The former Gold Star Inn in Sheepshead Bay, which has been functioning as a family shelter for about a year, is set to start housing single men as soon as next week. This follows the city’s Department of Homeless Services’ decision to move the 55 families currently residing there.
Residents have voiced their unease, claiming they’ve noticed a rise in criminal activity since the shelter’s opening. Many fear that converting it to accommodate single men will further intensify these issues.
Fahad, a plumber from nearby Brighton Beach, expressed his frustration: “People are breaking into cars, vandalizing parks, and behaving inappropriately in public. It was really quiet here before.”
Statistics show a troubling trend. Shootings in the 61st Precinct, which covers Sheepshead Bay, have jumped to five this year—a staggering 400% increase from the same timeframe in 2025. Additionally, reported rapes doubled from 8 to 16, and retail theft saw a 10% rise.
Interestingly, while overall crime in the area has decreased by roughly 7% compared to last year, residents remain skeptical about the safety measures being put in place for the new shelter residents.
Republican City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov raised concerns, highlighting that no criminal background checks would be conducted. “This leaves the door open for sex offenders and convicted felons to have access to children,” she wrote in a letter to the city’s Department of Social Services (DSS).
Vernikov contended that this conversion could be “devastating” for the community, warning of potential loitering, drug use, and an uptick in nearby crime, particularly since the shelter is located across from Lou Fiddler Park, a popular area for families.
A local resident, who chose to remain anonymous, remarked, “The city doesn’t seem to care about these issues—why are we allowing this to happen? There are vulnerable kids and elderly people involved.” Another neighbor, Olga Adinets, mentioned that someone recently released from prison was already living in the shelter, intensifying her worries about safety.
The shelter, operated by the nonprofit BHRAGS, has faced scrutiny after former executives were indicted on charges such as wire fraud and embezzlement earlier this year. However, despite ongoing investigations, Mayor Zoran Mamdani awarded BHRAGS almost $200 million in new city contracts in June.
City officials explained that the shift to accommodate single adult men reflects changing needs, with fewer families entering the shelter system. They also pointed out that BHRAGS is under new management after a reduction in its shelter portfolio.
A spokesperson from the DSS stated, “The agency continues to tackle the stigma surrounding single adult men experiencing homelessness.” They assured that a good neighbor policy is being implemented and that open communication lines with the community are a priority.
Fox News Digital has reached out for further comments from the mayor’s office and the DSS.
