This petition calls on the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), city leadership, and elected officials to pause and reconsider the development of a 7-story 105-bed transitional men’s shelter at 6530 Fourth Avenue.

While we fully believe in the dignity and rights of all New Yorkers, including those experiencing homelessness, this proposed location is not only questionable, it’s deeply concerning. 

It was planned without community input, without transparency, and in a location that places vulnerable populations and residential families in tension rather than balance. There are more appropriate, effective, and safe alternatives that would better serve both the unhoused and our neighborhood.

Let us be clear: we are not against providing housing to people in need. We believe in compassion, in services that offer pathways out of poverty, and in mental health support. We support smart and equitable shelter development across all five boroughs.

However, the current shelter plan is flawed, not only in its process and placement, but in its complete lack of transparency and community integration.

This facility is set to house a continuously rotating population of 105 adult men, many of whom may be experiencing complex challenges such as untreated mental illness, substance abuse, or justice involvement, inside a brand-new, seven-story building located directly across from the High School of Telecommunication Arts and Technology (approx. 1,200 students), adjacent to Leif Ericson Park (a central gathering space for local families with baseball, tennis & basketball courts, a dog park & a playground), and within blocks of daycares, and elementary schools, and community centers.

According to DHS and Volunteers of America (VOA), the nonprofit selected to operate the shelter, the building will include:
 • 24/7 security presence
 • 82 surveillance cameras throughout the building and grounds
 • Two security officers and three VOA staff members on-site at all times (Source: Brooklyn Eagle, April 23, 2025)

This raises an obvious and urgent question: if this level of security is required inside the building, what protections exist for the surrounding neighborhood when residents of the shelter are free to come and go?

Bay Ridge is a low-crime, community-centered neighborhood with no existing shelters. This makes the proposed facility’s abrupt introduction especially one-sided, introducing a high-capacity transitional housing facility without corresponding infrastructure, community services, or public safety planning.

Lack of Community Consultation and Process Transparency

Community Board 10 was informed in November 2023 but did not hold any public forums. Residents were unaware until permits were filed in April 2025. The process to site this shelter has lacked meaningful community input from inception. According to public records, press reports, and firsthand resident accounts:

 • Community Board 10 was first notified of the shelter proposal in November 2023, but did not publicly disclose the project until much later. No proactive communication, outreach, or alerts were issued to local residents at that time. (Source: Brooklyn Eagle, April 2025)

 • Permits were filed in April 2025 without any prior public forum, neighborhood survey, or town hall meeting, in direct conflict with DHS’s own stated siting guidelines, which recommend early community engagement. (Sources: Brooklyn Eagle, April 2025)

 • Multiple residents expressed frustration about the lack of transparency and response from elected officials, including Council member Brannan and CB10. In January 2024, residents peacefully protested the shelter plan outside Brannan’s district office. Rather than being met with dialogue, they reported being ignored and publicly mischaracterized. (Source: Brooklyn Eagle – Protest Coverage)

There are also inconsistencies in how the shelter was publicly described:

 • Council member Justin Brannan initially told constituents that the shelter would be specifically for veterans. However, official documents shared with Community Board 10 and city agencies make no mention of veteran-specific programming, simply stating the facility will house “105 single adult men.” (Source: HSTAT Hive News)

The process to site this shelter has also lacked meaningful community input. DHS ignored own rules requiring community consultation.

WE ARE NOT AGAINST HELPING THE HOMELESS
Bay Ridge is a diverse, welcoming community. We recognize NYC's homelessness crisis has doubled since 2022. We want solutions - but the RIGHT solutions in the RIGHT places.

We understand the importance of expanding shelter access, but planning must be inclusive, balanced, and respectful of existing communities.

We believe there are more suitable alternatives for this facility, including:

 • Underutilized commercial and industrial areas along the Sunset Park waterfront
 • Brooklyn Army Terminal or Brooklyn Cruise Terminal districts
 • Uninhabited buildings in mixed residential/commercial areas

OUR DEMANDS
STOP construction until proper community review occurs.
HOLD required public hearings before proceeding.
CONDUCT full and TRANSPARENT community impact assessment with full neighborhood participation.
FIND alternative locations away from schools, parks and playgrounds.
INCLUDE residents in planning process as required by law.

Let’s work together: residents, officials, and service providers to find solutions that serve both compassion and common sense.

Please sign this petition to support a more responsible, equitable, and inclusive approach to shelter siting, one that serves the unhoused and respects the integrity of the neighborhoods they’re placed in.