New 106-Bed Safe Haven Shelter Opens In Lower Manhattan During Code Blue Cold Emergency

A new 106-bed Safe Haven shelter opened in Lower Manhattan as New York City expanded emergency efforts to bring people living on the streets indoors during an extended Code Blue cold weather emergency, Mayor Mamdani announced.

The low-barrier shelter is designed for unsheltered New Yorkers who often avoid traditional shelters, including older adults and people with medical needs. Operated by the nonprofit Breaking Ground, the site offers on-site services and staff support intended to stabilize residents and help them transition into permanent housing.

The opening adds to a series of emergency measures launched during the cold snap, including expanded single-room shelter capacity in Upper Manhattan and the deployment of overnight warming buses and vans across the city.

Since Jan. 19, outreach teams have placed 980 people into shelters, according to the Department of Social Services.

“This new facility in Lower Manhattan will help older and our most medically vulnerable New Yorkers get off the street and into stable shelter with the services that they need,” Mamdani said.

Safe Havens operate with fewer restrictions than traditional shelters and focus on building trust with people who may be resistant to other forms of assistance. Lower Manhattan site addresses a longstanding gap in low-barrier shelter capacity in the area, according to city officials.

Brenda Rosen, Breaking Ground President and CEO, said the facility reflects decades of experience serving people experiencing homelessness.

“Low-barrier transitional housing like this can be a critical first step toward stability, health, and hope,” Rosen said.

During Code Blue conditions, outreach teams attempt to contact unsheltered individuals every four hours, and shelters relax intake requirements so no one is turned away. City officials urged residents to call 311 if they see someone who may need assistance.