We stand opposed to the  72-bed Homeless Shelter to be opened in Douglaston Queens. The 72-bed shelter will be located at 243-02 Northern Blvd in Douglaston, previously occupied by Pride of Judea. The Shelter will be run by the nonprofit Samaritan Village and will be the first homeless shelter in Northeast Queens.

Douglaston is a vibrant, long standing community of traditions and heritage.  Douglaston was colonized by the Dutch and British in 1600 and the merchant Wynant Van Zandt built a Greek Revival mansion in 1819 that later became the Douglaston Club. Our Victorian-style Douglaston Train Station which opened in 1866 was featured prominently in the famous F. Scott Fitzgerald novel, “The Great Gatsby.”  The Zion Church, St. Anastasia Church and the Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy, the Community Church of Douglaston and PS 98 have served our community for over 100 years. We are a community committed to open communication, fairness, inclusion and a common goal to support and improve the lives of all New Yorkers.

Unfortunately, our community has doubts on the degree of transparency about a new homeless shelter in our community. We feel the location of this shelter is concerning due to the lack of transportation and being located so close to Divine Wisdom Academy elementary school. The lack of transparency by the Department of Homeless Services of announcing the shelter plans before engaging with neighborhood residents and stakeholders is unfair to our Community. In fact, our community only became aware of the new homeless shelter plan when it was announced in the Queens Chronicle.  Our community supports meeting the needs of our community, but we need to be included in the planning process. We propose they find a new location that better fits the need of the homeless and our Community.

The Solution:

There are several city-owned properties that are vacant in industrial zones that can be used. Our taxpayer’s money will be much more efficiently used converting these existing properties instead of building new facilities. At the same time, it will minimize the friction of the shelter’s population with neighboring communities.

The announcement of the homeless shelter comes as a complete surprise to the community.  The proposal needs greater community discussion and should not move forward without the community’s voice being heard.

Signing a petition is NOT enough, we must take further action. Please email our local elected officials to let them hear your voice:

*When you email our local elected officials, please include your name, home address, and phone number

NYC Department Of Homeless Services
212-361-8000 or 212-385-3030
https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/home/mail/html/maildhs.htm

Senator John Liu
718-765-6675
liu@nysenate.gov

State Assemblyman Edward Braunstein
718-357-3588
braunsteine@nyassembly.gov

City Council Member Paul Vallone
718-619-8611
district19@council.nyc.gov

Community Board district Manager Joseph Marziliano
718-225-1054
QN11@cb.nyc.gov

Email your local school principal and assistant principals to express your concern for the safety of their staff and children. Here is a list of schools nearby:I.S. 281

Divine Wisdom Catholic Academy (1 block away)
Principal - Miriam Bonici
mbonici@dwcaonline.org

P.S. 98Q Elementary School Douglaston (1/2 mile away)
Assistant Principal- Diana Gautier  DGautier@schools.nyc.gov

JHS 67 Louis Pasteur (1/2 mile away) Middle School
Principal - Brian Annello
Call 718-423-8138

P.S 94 David D Porter Elementary School (1/2 mile away)

Principal - Laura Avakians
gkatehis2@SCHOOLS.NYC.GO

P.S. 221 North Hills School Elementary School (1/2 mile away

Principal - Patricia Bullard
Call 718-225-7030