NEW YORK – It’s the peak of hurricane season in the Atlantic and one of New York’s hurricane relief centers will no longer be available to residents of the city if the next big one strikes in the near future. It will instead house migrants.
Adams announced the conversion of a previously vacant office building at Austell Place in Long Island City into a Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center, as the city grapples with an influx of more than 110,000 asylum seekers since last spring. The facility will initially provide shelter to 330 single men but is expected to expand to nearly 1,000 asylum seekers at full capacity.
“New York City has stepped up to meet the challenge of this humanitarian crisis — but we need additional support to keep pace,” said Mayor Adams. He stressed the need for more backing from state and federal agencies as well as policy changes at the national level.
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom called for “a coordinated decompression strategy, increased financial support, and a faster pathway for asylum seekers to work and achieve independence,” citing the city’s unilateral efforts in caring for over 100,000 asylum seekers.
Officials from various city departments, including Housing, Emergency Management, and Health, echoed the urgency for broader support and lauded the city’s compassionate approach.
The new center comes in response to an average arrival rate of 2,400 asylum seekers per week and will offer a range of services, including aid in reaching asylum seekers’ final destinations. It is a transition from its prior use as an emergency respite site and represents the city’s ongoing efforts to adapt to a rapidly evolving humanitarian crisis.