By Bill Parry
The city began moving homeless families into a new emergency shelter in East Elmhurst, directly across the Grand Central Parkway at the former Clarion Hotel.
Located at 94-00 Ditmars Ave., the 169-unit hotel has been renamed The Landing following a spike that has seen a 20 percent increase in families entering the Department of Homeless Services PATH intake center in the Bronx with 5,570 over the last two months alone. The Bronx center is where the homeless families are processed.
“Eviction continues to be the main cause of homelessness in New York City, and now we’re seeing the summer uptick of homeless families entering our shelter system,” a DHS spokeswoman said. In order to ensure we have the capacity to house those in need, we’re opening a new shelter – the first new shelter to open this year – at the former Clarion Hotel in Queens.”
City Councilwoman Julissa Ferreras (D-East Elmhurst), who grew up just blocks away, found the community to be sympathetic to the new residents. But she would like to see the city channel more resources into the area.
“Poor bus service continues to be an issue and now with the shelter, it should be improved,” a Ferreras spokeswoman said. “The community is willing to absorb these families but not without our added support.”
State Sen. Jose Peralta (D-East Elmhurst) co-sponsored legislation that would require the city to involve communities for their comments and input on any plans to open or expand homeless shelters or social service centers.
“Here we go again, another permanent homeless shelter in my district, which makes it the second one under this administration,” Peralta said. “But the real kicker here is the so-called use of their emergency authority, which is cover for just bringing a homeless shelter into the community without any community input.”
DHS hosted a community meeting at the First Baptist Church last week, including faith leaders, community organizations and community board members to discuss community concerns, such as hiring, community safety, education and schools, according to officials. Not good enough for Peralta.
“My constituents are very understanding of the necessity of the city’s obligation to house the homeless, as well as understand that anyone is a paycheck away from being homeless,” he said. “But the fact that the city seeks input after the fact is nothing but a Bloomberg or Giuliani tactic of shoving a homeless shelter down a community’s throat.”
Service provider CAMBA will bring on-site social and rehousing services and meals will be provided at the shelter because the units lack kitchens. DHS will develop and implement a robust security plan – through consultation with the NYPD and community affairs – to ensure the safety of shelter residents and the community, officials say.
Reach reporter Bill Parry by e-mail at bparr
