Councillor Shi Dao Protests Conversion of Elderly Apartment to Homeless Shelter

Councillor Shi Dao has protested the city government’s plan to convert a former senior housing facility on Staten Island into a permanent homeless shelter. The council members emphasized that Staten Island has already made significant contributions to the city’s homeless issue and will oppose this plan to the end. They urged the city government to review New York City’s homeless plan, believing it involves serious corruption and fraud.

The council members held a press conference at 1111 Father Capodanno Blvd, a seaside location on Staten Island, to criticize the city’s plan to convert the site into a homeless shelter. The facility, which would accommodate 100 homeless families and over 230 people, was originally a senior housing facility occupied by retirees, including many veterans and their families.

David Carr, the minority leader of the city council and Staten Island’s 50th district council member, explained that the building was converted into a refugee shelter in 2022. At that time, New York City faced a refugee issue, and Mayor Adams announced that 53 elderly residents would have to move out. The city then signed a $3 million contract with a private institution to convert the site into a refugee shelter with 113 living units.

Carr noted that after the refugee issue eased, a private institution decided to purchase and convert the site back into senior housing. However, the city government converted the apartment into a temporary homeless shelter. This week, the council members learned that the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) plans to convert the site into a permanent shelter and has signed a five-year contract with a private institution, which can be renewed for another four years, totaling nine years.

The council members oppose any new homeless shelter plans on Staten Island, as the borough has already made extraordinary contributions to New York City’s homeless issue. Carr stated that according to statistics, there are currently 39 homeless people on Staten Island, but there are already four homeless shelters in operation. In addition to the proposed location, the city government also plans to build another homeless shelter at 4934 Arthur Kill in South Beach.

Carr pointed out that he has already submitted a letter to the mayor and the city comptroller on behalf of the city council members, requesting a review of all contracts for homeless shelters in New York City. He said that these contracts involve serious fraud and mismanagement. The council members believe that the city’s homeless plan is not only inefficient but also unjust, and they are calling for transparency and accountability in the allocation of resources.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Mandarin Chinese)