New York City to Close 13 Emergency Migrant Shelters by June, Opens New Facility in the Bronx

New York City is set to close 13 emergency migrant shelters across all five boroughs by June 2025, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Friday. Among the facilities slated for closure is the controversial Hall Street shelter in Brooklyn. In total, the closures will eliminate 10,000 beds, marking a significant downsizing of the city’s emergency housing for migrants.

The move comes as part of a larger plan previously revealed by Adams to close 25 shelter sites by March 2025, including Floyd Bennet Field and Randall’s Island. By June, the city will have closed 20% of the emergency shelters initially opened to manage the migrant crisis.

Adams cited a decline in the number of migrants entering New York City and a substantial reduction in city spending on asylum seekers as factors contributing to the decision. Despite these closures, the city will open a new facility on Bruckner Boulevard in the Bronx, which will house 2,200 adult men previously living on Randall’s Island.

“The additional closures we are announcing today provide yet another example of our continued progress and the success of our humanitarian efforts to care for everyone throughout our system,” Adams stated.

The city’s response to the ongoing migrant crisis has been a topic of intense debate. While some applaud the reduction in shelters as a sign of progress in managing the situation, others have raised concerns about the potential impact on the asylum-seeking population still in need of assistance.

With these changes, New York City continues to balance the challenges of addressing humanitarian needs while managing limited resources, signaling a new phase in its approach to the migrant crisis.