Daily, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) provides shelter for 37,000 people, including over 8,000 families. Many of these shelters are disproportionately saturated within Community Board Districts that are often less affluent, like Community Board 4 in the Bronx.  This violates the basic tenants of the New York City Fair Share Law that dictates that all communities should bare their fair share of burden for social services.  

The NYC shelter system stagnates progress of the homeless in achieving affordable housing and is notorious for its breeding grounds of inefficient social services. Poor community districts are then robbed of a full quality of life as a constant influx of individuals are recycled from one housing facility in the community to the next.  

We demand our human right to develop our neighborhoods with the dignity and integrity of all persons in focus of holistic care. We stand united against the over-burdening of our communities with shelters at the expense of alternative development designed to truly lift people out of poverty. We demand quality of life for all members of our communities and the equal application of the New York City Fair Share Law.  

Tell the Bronx Borough President, The Public Advocate of New York and Bronx Community Board 4 that the homeless deserve affordable housing, not more shelters. Stop allowing shelters in Community Board 4. Care for the homeless rests with the responsibility of every neighborhood, not just the poor ones.