Staff Reports
In a bid to address the mounting pressure on New York City’s struggling shelter system and discourage further migration, Mayor Eric Adams has introduced stricter rules limiting adult migrants to just 30 days in city-run facilities. While advocates for migrants and homeless individuals criticized the move as unnecessary and heartless, the mayor sees it as a step towards enabling asylum seekers to progress with their journeys.
Adams announced the tightened restrictions following the Biden administration’s recent decision to grant temporary protected status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who arrived before July 31. This designation will expedite their authorization to work in the United States. The move has long been sought by Adams and other mayors of major cities facing the overwhelming task of caring for a growing number of migrants.
Although the city appreciates the support it has received from state and federal partners, Adams made it clear that without additional assistance, difficult decisions will continue to be made. Currently, New York City is responsible for over 60,000 migrants, with approximately 25% being of Venezuelan origin. Since the spring of last year, more than 116,000 migrants have arrived at the U.S.-Mexico border.
Critics argue that the 60-day limit on shelter stays, implemented by Adams in July, violates a court ruling that mandates the city to provide shelter to all who seek it. Furthermore, an executive order issued by Adams in May, which relaxed the city’s right-to-shelter rules, is now the subject of a legal battle. However, the mayor has garnered support from fellow Democrat Gov. Kathy Hochul, who stated that the right to shelter was never meant to be an unlimited universal right or obligation for the city.
New York City further tightens time limit for migrants to move out of shelters https://t.co/DhlsyvCY8T pic.twitter.com/k47kwsFtgK
— Eyewitness News (@ABC7NY) September 25, 2023
Advocates have long called for housing vouchers and increased funding to establish more lasting solutions, such as expanding the city’s stock of affordable housing. They argue that living in a shelter is far from ideal and that the challenge is exacerbated given the high real estate prices in New York City. Critics also question the need for a time limit when Venezuelans have been granted a faster path to jobs and self-reliance for housing.
However, the mayor’s office highlights the heavy financial burden of housing and providing services for migrants, estimating costs of about $12 billion over three years. As a result, significant budget cuts may be necessary, affecting the city’s ability to adequately provide services. Nonetheless, Adams promises intensified casework services for migrants beyond the 30-day limit and an additional 30 shelter days for those unable to secure alternative accommodations by the end of their two-month notice.
Recognizing the urgency of transitioning migrants into other housing, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Anne Williams-Isom emphasized the need for a more efficient process. Currently, the city has opened 210 emergency shelters, including large-scale humanitarian relief centers, and is actively seeking additional space, even considering erecting more tents to accommodate those in need of a place to sleep.
