Residents of New York City’s Upper East Side expressed significant frustration during a public meeting on Monday, protesting a proposed homeless shelter that they believe benefits developers more than the local community.
The shelter, which is set to open around April, is a conversion of a previous men’s facility and will accommodate approximately 250 women. Concerns were raised during the Community Board 8 meeting, organized by Housing Solutions New York (HSNY), particularly regarding its location near schools and daycare centers. Community members felt that city officials were hurrying the project along, suggesting a lack of genuine input from residents and a focus on profitable arrangements for developers.
Unexpectedly, the city had informed local leaders in early 2025 that the shelter project would be indefinitely paused. However, they later announced plans to present it as nearly complete by January 2026, leaving the community with very little time to prepare.
Community member Bonnie Barend voiced her dissatisfaction, stating, “What we’re upset about is that we weren’t notified and it’s in the wrong location. It shouldn’t be here.” She further criticized how officials were interacting with attendees, stressing their concern for community welfare.
City representatives emphasized the pressing need for homeless services in the area, citing the lack of available resources. They assured that security measures would be put in place, such as strict curfews and prohibitions against residents with certain criminal backgrounds, particularly sex offenders, due to the shelter’s proximity to schools.
However, Dr. Zelex Rivera, HSNY’s chief program officer, faced backlash when he indicated that only new applicants would be screened for criminal records. This caused an uproar in the audience, with accusations that this was insufficient for ensuring safety.
Some attendees expressed worries about the shelter’s closeness to legal marijuana dispensaries, highlighting that items sold there could potentially pose risks, including serving as makeshift weapons. One father pointed out safety concerns for children, referencing past incidents in similar facilities.
As tensions escalated, a resident directed their frustration at board chair Valerie Mason, exclaiming, “You’re not defending us!” Amidst the heightened emotions, the meeting presenter noted the legitimate concerns but lamented that yelling hindered the discussion process.
Board member Todd “TJ” Stein also criticized how the meeting was handled, stating it wasn’t effective and left the community inadequately informed. In her closing remarks, Mason acknowledged the discord, indicating that people were perhaps a bit too impatient to engage meaningfully with the information shared.
