Brooklyn residents protest homeless shelter plan
BENSONHURST, Brooklyn (PIX11) -- Some members of the Bensonhurst community are pushing back against New York City's plan to open a homeless shelter for single men on 86th Street and 25th Avenue in Brooklyn.
About 100 people demonstrated Monday outside the property at 2501-2511 86th St. City Councilwoman Susan Zhuang told PIX11 she suggested alternate locations.
"It's next to a school; there's five schools nearby, cross the street, there's a senior center here, also a daycare center here, this is not the proper location," Zhuang said.
PIX11 News contacted the city's Department of Social Services.
In an email, a spokesperson wrote:
"This community (BK CD11) has ZERO shelter resources, and this high-quality shelter will be the first in this community, offering dedicated services and supports to 150 men experiencing homelessness, including those experiencing mental health challenges."
Department of Social Services spokseperson
It will be run by VIP Community Services, which started in the Bronx.
On its website, it says:
"VIP has long recognized that for treatment to be successful long term, the drug lifestyle has to be replaced with positive elements — education, health care, mental health care, job training, life skills and work opportunities."
"Working together with our not-for-profit provider-partner VIP, we will be providing robust wraparound support as dedicated staff work closely with shelter residents to help them stabilize their lives and move into permanent housing. As we have always done, we will continue to maintain open lines of communication with the community and remain committed to ongoing engagement as we work collaboratively to support our neighbors in need,” The city's DSS said in an emailed statement.
The city said illegal drugs and alcohol cannot be consumed on the property. There will be at least seven security staff members per shift and one supervisor overseeing security staff. Seventy-four cameras will also be installed both inside and outside the shelter.
It is slated to open in late 2024.