City Hall to Return Control of Shelter Operations to Department of Homeless Services
The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) will take control of all shelter operations, including those housing asylum-seeking immigrants, by June 2026. This plan comes after two years of operating an “ad hoc ‘shadow system’ of separate shelters” under the auspices of agencies other than DHS. The transition is reflected in updated budget documents released this week, indicating the transition will occur by the end of the upcoming fiscal year.
Background
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In 2022, an influx of migrants arrived in buses from border communities. DHS opened emergency shelters in hotels, but by that fall, the numbers continued to climb, and other agencies intervened, setting up warehouses, hotels, and tents for these new arrivals. This “shadow system” operating outside of New York City’s right to shelter provisions raised concerns among advocates.
Shift to DHS Oversight
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The return of control to DHS brings an end to the temporary shelter system, which includes warehouses, hotels, tents, and gyms for asylum-seeking immigrants. The separate migrant shelters, overseen by other agencies, include the Health and Hospitals Corporation, the Housing Preservation and Development department, the Office of Emergency Management, and the Department of Youth and Community. These facilities housed more than 223,000 people over the past two years, with over 57,000 currently living in them.
Why the Change?
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Advocates support the move, citing the upsides of having a single city agency managing all of the shelters. However, some express concerns about integrating newly arrived migrants with longer-term New Yorkers and fear that the shift may maintain distinct facilities for migrants with different rules.
Significant Concerns
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The new system raises significant concerns. DHS already oversees around 160 emergency shelters in the five boroughs. Many “right to shelter” protections were waived at these facilities, leading to strict 30-day time limits on shelter stays for adults, and 60-day limits for families. Some migrants were forced to spend days sleeping outside hotels, waiting for a spot in the crowded shelters. The current system also excluded rules that apply in standard shelters, such as 3-foot spacing between cots and secure lockers for residents.
What Lies Ahead?
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While DHS takes control of migrant shelter operations, it’s unclear if the city will end the separate shelter system and integrate newly arrived migrants with longer-term New Yorkers. DHS Commissioner Molly Park will need time to build an appropriate infrastructure to manage the transition. The details of the transition are still being hammered out.
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