50 NYC houses of worship to start sheltering migrants: Adams
New York City to Utilize Houses of Worship for Asylum Seekers
Starting next month, dozens of houses of worship located in different areas around New York City will be utilized to provide shelter for migrants. This is to address the overwhelming influx of asylum seekers in the city. Mayor Eric Adams announced on Monday that religious leaders have offered 50 faith-based locations to house asylum seekers overnight for the next two years. Also, the city will open five daytime centers intended for migrant support. This move is a partnership between various religious organizations and the New York Disaster Interfaith Services. Each location will house about 19 adult men.
Mayor Adams said, “Not only will this increase the space we have by nearly 1,000 beds, but it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities.” The city is currently having difficulties accommodating 45,900 asylum seekers in 157 emergency sites across the five boroughs. In the past week, 2,200 migrants arrived at city shelters alone. Faith-based shelters are an addition to the efforts of the mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, which sent out an appeal to religious leaders to help provide clothing to thousands of asylum seekers in the city’s migrant shelters.
Executive director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, Pastor Gil Monrose, said, “I am really grateful that faith leaders are opening their doors to asylum seekers — providing their space as well as the hands of the community to care for them. New York is truly a city of faith.”
FAQs
What is the purpose of utilizing houses of worship for asylum seekers in New York City?
This is to accommodate the influx of asylum seekers in the city. Due to the overwhelming number of migrants in shelters, the city is partnering with different religious organizations to provide shelter for them.
How many locations will be used to provide shelter?
Religious leaders have offered 50 faith-based locations across the five boroughs.
How many asylum seekers will each location accommodate?
Each of the 50 locations will cater for approximately 19 adult men.
How long will the program last?
The partnership with the New York Disaster Interfaith Services and various religious organizations will run for the next two years.
Will the city also provide support for migrants during the day?
As part of the program, the city will also open five daytime centers to provide migrant support during the day to allow the faith-based spaces to continue to offer their regular services to New Yorkers.
Adams proposes to use 50 houses of worship in NYC as shelters for migrants.
New York City officials have teamed up with religious leaders to provide temporary shelter for migrants seeking asylum. Dozens of houses of worship across the city will offer to house these asylum seekers overnight for two years, according to Mayor Eric Adams. The partnership with the New York Disaster Interfaith Services will allow roughly 19 adult men to be accommodated in each of the 50 faith-based locations. “Not only will this increase the space we have by nearly 1,000 beds, but it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities,” said Adams. The city is currently facing an overflow of 45,900 asylum seekers across 157 emergency sites in the five boroughs. The new plan comes several months after the Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships appealed to religious leaders for help to clothe thousands of those seeking asylum in migrant shelters.