Protests Erupt Over Proposed Homeless Shelter in Brooklyn

Angry protesters gathered at a proposed homeless shelter site in Brooklyn on Sunday night, blocking construction trucks and returning early Monday morning amidst rumors that work would commence. The unrest unfolded in Bensonhurst, where hundreds called on Mayor Zoran Mamdani to abandon plans for a men’s shelter that would accommodate 150 individuals, located at the intersection of 86th and 25th Streets.

As unverified reports circulated about construction starting soon, around 100 police officers, equipped with riot gear, dismantled barricades to manage the crowd that had gathered around a moving container truck intended for the site.

One protester positioned himself behind the tires of a backing container truck at the construction area, where several construction vehicles, including dump trucks, were already present.

“We came here to protest this homeless shelter because it’s a threat to our neighborhood. We’ll stay here tonight and we’ll be back the following nights until the mayor halts construction,” remarked protester Kevin Chan, 40.

Another resident, Zhang, expressed concerns about the shelter’s location, pointing out, “This is a main thoroughfare that mothers, children, and elderly people traverse daily. Plus, the subway is right there. Homeless shelters, particularly for individuals with a dangerous past, should be placed in isolated areas, not central transportation hubs.”

Local residents fear that the men’s shelter, situated near several senior housing complexes, could attract crime and drug issues. Protests have persisted in the predominantly Asian 43rd District since the city first announced its intention to construct the shelter in November 2023.

In a notable incident during violent protests in July 2024, City Councilwoman Susan Chuan (D-43) was arrested for allegedly biting a police deputy chief during a fracas that erupted amid shouting. Those charges were later dismissed.

The Department of Social Welfare recently informed the public that Mayor Mamdani’s administration intended to proactively push the project forward, although construction has not yet commenced, and the overall completion remains uncertain. It was reported that the shelter is tentatively scheduled to open at the end of 2027.

Attempts to obtain a comment from the Department of Human Services regarding the timeline for construction yielded no immediate replies.

Protester Alex Lin voiced frustration over the shelter’s location, saying, “Mr. Mamdani wants the homeless to feel at home, so he decides to place shelters wherever he likes. Maybe he believes being near family will help with rehabilitation.”

He added, “He could have set it up anywhere in the city, yet he chose our neighborhood. It seems like he doesn’t care about our safety. Look at the police presence tonight. Do they even show up when a homeless drug addict is near a child?”