Petition in Opposition to the Adult Men’s Homeless Shelter, proposed for 61-18 93 Street, Rego Park, Queens, NYC.

To the Mayor of the City of New York, Members of the City Council, Elected Officials, Community Board Members, Community Members:

We are OPPOSED to the establishment of the adult men’s shelter, proposed for the Wyndham Hotel, located at at 61-18 93 Street, in Rego Park, Queens. We are concerned local residents, homeowners and businesspeople.
There are many problems, and unanswered questions, concerning this shelter.

We need affordable housing, for families, seniors, veterans and others, but this shelter is intended to temporarily house 100 or more adult men, dormitory style, with some meals. It supposedly is not intended for permanent housing. 

Location: There may be a danger to families and children, caused by the men’s shelter, because it will be located next to a playground, within easy walking distance of several elementary schools, P.S. 206, P.S. 139, P.S. 174, with the recreation center, the Lost Batallion Hall, on the next block, in a densely populated residential area. This is the wrong place, to put a shelter for adult men. Another location should be found, if it is really needed. It appears that there has been no study of how the local community will be affected by this shelter.

There are 2 homeless shelters proposed for Rego Park, this adult men’s shelter, and another, family shelter, currently under construction, two blocks away, at about 92-54 Queens Blvd. There is at least one more shelter in nearby Corona. Why do we need so many homeless shelters, instead of real affordable housing for our community? There has been almost no information provided to our community, regarding any of these shelter proposals.

Many important questions have been left unanswered:

Population: What will the population be, for any of these planned shelters? We believe that a preference should be given to veterans, seniors, and local residents. 

Vetting: The Department of Social Services (DSS) spoke about intake and case management. Does this mean that they will take in migrants, men with mental and/or physical impairments, drug or substance addictions, or criminal defendants? It seems so.

Security: What security will be provided for the homeless facilities, and for the community? Will extra police department personnel be required, and allocated? Who will pay for the extra police presence?

Services: What services will be provided for these homeless men, or for the community, when we are faced with the additional problems? Where will these services be provided, at the Lost Batallion Hall, or neighborhood schools?

Food: Where and when will food be provided to these homeless men? DSS spoke about 3 meals per day. Where will the kitchen and kitchen staff be located? What about additional food? Will there be cooking facilities in each dorm room? Will kosher food be available? Or will the homeless men need to seek out neighborhood resources?

Income: Which agencies are involved with providing additional income for these men? With a temporary shelter, and some food, the men will still require additional funds. Or is it expected that they should rely upon our local community?

Contracts: What are the terms of the contracts that the agencies and companies involved, have with the City of New York?  What is the amount of money involved? What process was involved in agreeing to these contracts?  What length of time of stay is planned for each homeless man? What provisions are made for moving these men out of the shelter, or out to other facilities?

Would any of these homeless men be eligible for a housing voucher, or housing assistance, through N.Y.C.’s other programs and services? If there is room for 100 men, using other programs and facilities, then we certainly don’t need this shelter.

And other serious questions.

We should be seeking ways to help the homeless, and those in need. We must also consider and include the needs of our local residents, when any policy or program is implemented, and this must be done regarding shelters.

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Please return petitions to Sheryl Fetik, so that we can show community opposition. Thank you. Please email to sheryl.fetik@gmail.com.
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