NYC To Close Homeless Intake Shelter

NEW YORK, NY — The City plans to close the 30th Street homeless intake shelter, long known as Bellevue, by the end of April and relocate about 250 residents while shifting intake services to new sites in Manhattan, officials announced.

The administration of Mayor Zohran Mamdani said the decision follows engineering assessments that found the building in severe disrepair.

The facility first opened in 1931 and serves as the city’s primary intake center for adult men and adult families without minor children.

City officials said the Departments of Social Services and Homeless Services will relocate current residents by mid-March while maintaining the same number of shelter beds across the system.

“My administration is focused on ensuring every New Yorker experiencing homelessness not only has access to shelter, but to spaces that are safe, humane and truly livable,” Mamdani said. “We cannot accept a system that treats people without dignity or stability.”

Under the plan, the city will move intake for adult men to 8 E. 3rd St. and intake for adult families without minor children to 333 Bowery beginning May 1. Officials said intake will remain in Manhattan to maintain continuity of services.

City agencies will launch a regional communications campaign to inform people experiencing homelessness, outreach teams and service providers about the new locations. The Department of Homeless Services will maintain a small presence at the 30th Street site for at least a year after the closure to direct people who arrive there to the new intake centers and provide transportation.

Officials also said the city is working with partner agencies on a long-term redevelopment plan for the property.

Advocacy groups raised concerns about the pace of the closure and the disruption it could cause.

In a joint statement, the Legal Aid Society and the Coalition for the Homeless said the facility has served for decades as the “primary intake center for adult men and adult families across all five boroughs.”

“Any disruption to this critical front door to shelter — especially on short notice — risks creating confusion and additional hardship for people who are already experiencing homelessness,” the groups wrote.

Advocates said many people seeking shelter already know the 30th Street location and warned that sudden changes could delay access to beds.

“Abrupt changes could leave people sleeping outside longer or deter individuals and families from seeking help,” the organizations stated.

The groups also urged the city to ensure that any new intake location is fully accessible to people with disabilities and that outreach teams and community partners receive clear information about the changes.

“If the City proceeds with a temporary closure to make necessary repairs, the process must be handled thoughtfully and transparently,” the organizations stated, adding that repairs should move as quickly as possible.