A police source told The Courier that quality of life complaints are up in the area around the Skyway Family Center, and that the 106th Precinct will be addressing these issues.
“We have received reports of disorderly activity, people drinking on the sidewalk,” said the source. “It is usually a quiet area.”
The center, at 132-10 South Conduit Avenue in South Ozone Park, was changed in early February from a family shelter – 276 people — to one that houses only men – 176 residents.
The “overnight” change – and what community leaders are saying was a lack of input and notification – has raised concerns for residents and local leaders.
“We don’t believe it was necessary to change the facility’s use at this time,” said Betty Braton, Community Board 10 chair. “It functioned as a family center with minimum problems for years. The children in the shelter went to P.S. 124 and were moved in March. We are very displeased by the lack of consultation with the Community Board by the city’s Department of Homeless Services (DHS).”
She went on to say that CB 10 received notification “after our February meeting and a few days before they were open for business.”
“Homeless Services has a mandate to provide temporary, emergency shelter to those in need,” said Heather Janik, DHS spokesperson. “We have recently seen an increase in the number of adults applying for services and as such, the agency must make judicious use of all its capacity as demand needs change.”
The police source said that, in recent weeks, there has been pan handling and males have been asking to pump motorists’ gas at the stations on the North Conduit and 130th Street.
But City Councilmember Ruben Wills raises a more pressing concern.
“There are three registered sex offenders [in the shelter],” said Lupe Todd, spokesperson for Wills. “There is a school nearby [P.S./M.S. 124], a park nearby, and we are questioning if they are far enough away.”
Reportedly, school officials are very concerned about students’ safety, but repeated phone calls were not returned as of press time.
DHS would neither confirm nor deny Wills’ claim, though the agency has said that the facility has 24/7 security, both inside and outside. Guards do perimeter walks at least two-three blocks on either side of the facility so if residents are loitering they can move them on. Two vans transport clients to appointments and to the local bus stop. In addition, security cameras are present throughout the facility, both inside and out, and footage is viewed by a security guard at all times.
“One of the parents’ concerns was that security guard shift changes coincided with dismissal, but this was changed,” said Braton, who noted that a Community Advisory Board has been formed. “They provide the police department with a daily census of the people in the shelter, and we are working with the precinct to see what the [crime] figures in the area are.”
The police source told The Courier that a Crime Prevention Officer will set up a Trespass Affidavit Program at the gas stations in question; NYPD will be at local parks at closing – 9 p.m. – to make sure they are empty, and that an officer will be present at P.S. 124 dismissal.
The source made it very clear that “we are not targeting these people because they are homeless, we are simply addressing concerns. We are going to keep an eye on quality of life complaints. We judge where our resources go by crimes committed.”
He also stressed that those with quality of life concerns should call 3-1-1 or 9-1-1 for crimes.
