Nearly 1,000 people have signed an online petition opposing plans to convert a former Catholic convent in East Elmhurst into a mental health crisis facility for children and teenagers, citing concerns over safety, communication missteps and potential future use of the site.
The petition was launched in March in response to the Our Lady of Fatima parish’s decision to convert a former convent at 25-56 80th St. into a facility run by mental health and disability non-profit YAI.
YAI’s Children’s Crisis Residence, operated in collaboration with the New York State Office of Mental Health, is slated to open in January 2026 and will provide short-term respite for young people aged between eight and 17 who are struggling with mental health issues.
Despite reassurances from YAI, local elected officials and the Diocese of Brooklyn, community members say they remain wary—especially after a mistaken lease agreement created confusion over who the facility would ultimately serve.
A facility for youth, not adults
Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas, who has met with YAI about the project, confirmed the facility will be limited to individuals under 18 and will not serve as a drug rehabilitation center or long-term housing site. She emphasized that residents will not be allowed to leave the building without supervision and said the space will focus on youth coping with bullying, disabilities, or emotional trauma.
“Bullying is a big thing,” González-Rojas said. “As a mom of a teenager, I know that’s a sad reality amongst young people. The center is really to divert young people from emergency rooms while still providing stability and guidance.”
González-Rojas also pointed to YAI’s existing facility in Astoria that serves adults with disabilities, noting that it has operated without incident. She described the organization as “a critical resource” and said she was surprised by the intensity of the opposition in East Elmhurst.
Community backlash fueled by miscommunication
Much of the controversy appears to stem from a lease agreement that initially included the phrase “chemically dependent individuals”—language residents interpreted as an indication that the site might eventually serve adults struggling with addiction. YAI has since acknowledged the language was mistakenly carried over from a different facility’s lease and said it is working to amend the error.
Still, the confusion has fueled speculation and mistrust. Residents have voiced extreme fears that the facility could one day house not just adults with addictions, but also individuals described in the petition as “criminally insane,” sex offenders, and even pedophiles—claims that YAI and the Diocese of Brooklyn categorically deny.
The Diocese emphasized that the terms of the lease cannot be unilaterally changed and stated the facility is approved only for youth up to age 17. Community Board 3 and parish trustees have both signed off on the plan.
Nevertheless, some residents say they remain concerned. Mike Pinto, a lifelong East Elmhurst resident and member of the Our Lady of Fatima parish council, said the petition’s aim is to not only correct the lease language but also include clear stipulations that the space will never serve adults, chemically dependent individuals, or sex offenders.
“The building is right next to Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Academy,” Pinto said, referring to the K-8 school located at 25-38 80th St. “There are certain populations the community never wants to see in that facility.”
Frustrations with transparency
Residents have also taken issue with what they describe as inconsistent or unclear communication from YAI and the parish. Pinto said initial explanations from parish priest Fr. Darrell Da Costa shifted over time, from describing the facility as a home for youth with intellectual disabilities to stating it would serve emotionally disturbed youth without developmental disabilities.
“They weren’t able to clarify some presumptions or concerns that community members had, and I believe that really snowballed into an upset community that had a real misunderstanding of what they do or what their services are,” González-Rojas said.
The debate has intensified following the recent arrest of a church staffer accused of sexually abusing a teenage girl he met at Our Lady of Fatima. The incident has further eroded trust among some residents, with one community member questioning whether the parish can effectively oversee a facility of this nature.
The issue came to a head at a packed North Queens Homeowners Civic Association meeting on May 8, where several residents said they were not given the opportunity to voice their concerns. As of mid-May, the online petition had gathered nearly 950 signatures, with an additional 250 residents signing a written version.
Calls for clarity, not fear
The Diocese of Brooklyn said Fr. Da Costa shared information in the parish bulletin back in February and reiterated that the amended lease clearly states the facility’s exclusive purpose: short-term care for youth in crisis.
Ramses Frias, a Republican candidate for City Council District 25, said he is still gathering information before deciding whether to support the petition, but acknowledged widespread concern among residents.
“People are scared because of how close this is to the school,” Frias said. “The community says, ‘You can say one thing now, but what happens in five years when new people are in charge?’”
For its part, YAI says the center will offer a safe alternative to emergency rooms or inpatient psychiatric stays, providing youth with counseling, stability and a supportive, home-like setting.
“YAI has proactively engaged with local officials and community members to ensure transparency, address concerns, and clarify the program’s mission,” a spokesperson said in a statement. “The lease is very clear on its intended use as a temporary residence for children. YAI is fully committed to honoring that purpose.”
