Park Slope Shelter Opponents Gear Up For Hearing This Week

PARK SLOPE, BROOKLYN — The fight against two homeless shelters planned for Fourth Avenue is not over yet according to a group that has been organizing against the developments.

The city's combined $261 million contract for two family shelters the Department of Homeless Services will lease out to nonprofit WIN at 535 and 555 Fourth Ave. will face a public hearing at 10 a.m. on Thursday in Manhattan.

One of two groups that have been organizing against the developments have said the hearing is a "critical" opportunity to make their position known.

"Arrive early and sign up to speak, or just attend and show your support for our neighborhood," Fourth Avenue Neighbors wrote in an email to their supporters. "You can make a difference!!!"

Fourth Avenue Neighbors, along with another group that started a petition against the shelters, have said that their main point of contention is that the $6.3 million and $4.6 million yearly rent the city will pay for the two buildings has bailed out "bad actor" developers.

These rent numbers are part of a $147 million contract for nine years for 535 Fourth Ave. and a $114 million contract for nine years for the 555 Fourth Ave., which will give WIN the ability to run the shelters, that will be up for review at the hearing.

Fourth Avenue Neighbors has argued that the contract costs are far too high and would be better used to develop affordable housing instead of two shelters.

"The cost of the shelter is obscene," they wrote in the email. "$10,557 per unit per month at 555 Fourth Avenue is four times the average rent for a one-bedroom in our area. Even if you incorporate the cost of services provided, these contracts represent $73.7 million of waste and potential corruption."

The $147 million and $114 million total contracts represent $17 million per year and $13 million per year for the developments, respectively. $6.3 million of that $17 million and $4.6 million of the $13 million will go to rent, while the rest will cover services.

DHS has contended that breaking down the total yearly cost per unit per month is an inaccurate way to breakdown the numbers. The "wrap-around" services WIN will provide under the contract include case management, housing placement assistance, health and mental health services and employment counseling.

"High-quality transitional housing is far more than just a room to sleep in or a roof over one’s head," DHS has said. "Cost covers far more than just rent—services, staffing, security, administrative costs and overhead are all included in the contract value."

Testimony from the Thursday hearing will be considered by DHS before the agency finalizes the contracts and before the shelters open, according to an FAQ about the shelters by Council Member Brad Lander.

The two shelters, which will bring 250 units for homeless families and 29 permanent supportive housing apartments this fall, have become a divisive issue in Park Slope since they were announced.

A petition against the shelters, written by the Fourth Avenue Committee, has gained more than 1,250 signatures while another petition in favor of the developments has racked up more than 2,500.

Citizen Squirrel, the organization that started the petition supporting the shelters, also plans to be represented at the hearing, founder Kathy Park Price said.