We are urgently bringing to your attention our collective concerns regarding the proposed construction project at 105 Washington Street in the Financial District. 

 
The New York City Department of Social Services, in conjunction with CUCS, is planning to establish a six-story, 84-bed safe haven shelter at 105 Washington Street. This proposal has sparked significant apprehension among residents due to several key factors. 
  
Firstly, the proximity of this shelter, situated less than fifty feet from both the 492-bed HERRC Migrant Center and the China Institute’s youth educational program site, raises concerns regarding the concentration of vulnerable populations in our neighborhood. Additionally, the shelter's close proximity to other nearby schools like Leman Preparatory School, the High School of Economics and Finance, A School Without Walls, PS 150, and public parks, such as the West Thames playground, Zuccotti Park, and Liberty Park, exacerbates these concerns, particularly given the facility's low entry barriers. 
 

We, the community, have put forth several policy changes that we believe are essential to aligning this shelter with our collective interests and ensuring the safety and well-being of both residents and the broader community.

 
Our proposed changes include: 

1. Criminal Background Testing(Including Sex Offender Registry): Thorough criminal background checks, including sex offender registry checks, are essential to address safety concerns, especially considering the proximity of schools and public parks.
2.  Establishing a Clear Safety Protocol: We propose developing a comprehensive safety protocol involving the shelter operator, local law enforcement, Community Board 1 (CB1), principals of local schools, and the local Business Improvement District (BID) to ensure the safety and well-being of all stakeholders.
3. Curfew: Implementing a curfew of 11 PM is crucial for maintaining order and ensuring the safety of both residents and the community. 
4. Limiting Bed Count: We propose reducing the bed count from 84 to 50 beds. A more modest bed count will alleviate potential strain on resources and foster a more manageable and supportive environment for residents. 
5. Explore Target Population Change: We advocate for implementing a work requirement as a prerequisite for entering the safe haven. This will better position the shelter as a place for individuals to regain self-sufficiency. Additionally, we urge the shelter operators to commit to maintaining a mixed adult population to ensure fair resource allocation. 
6. Ensuring Preference to Local Residents in Need: We express concerns about the broad geographic definition of "local" advocated by the shelter operators. We believe that the shelter should prioritize serving the homeless population within the immediate neighborhood to address the pressing needs of our community. 

The issues surrounding sheltering and rehabilitating homeless individuals are undoubtedly multifaceted and must be dealt with in a safe location where the general public, especially children, are not negatively impacted. While we support a compassionate solution for individuals experiencing homelessness in New York City, we strongly oppose the policies of this proposed facility as they currently stand, and we believe that these concessions will contribute to the success of the facility while alleviating concerns within the community. 

We ask that you please sign this petition and participate in our protests when you can join. The more we speak out, the more likely it is that city leadership will hear us and make sure that all neighborhoods in the city, not just the Financial District, operate safe shelters in appropriate locations. 

SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHARE! SIGN THIS PETITION AND SHARE!