Public Hearing Set For UES Homeless Shelter: What To Know

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — Plans to open a homeless shelter in Lenox Hill raised concerns, unanswered questions and vocal opposition when they first surfaced in late January.

Now, Upper East Siders will get a chance to share their opinions and hear directly from the city’s Department of Homeless Services at a public hearing next Monday.

"As a community board, it's our responsibility to listen to the community, to advocate for the community. And I look forward to listening to everybody on Monday night and to make this as good an experience as it could be," Community Board 8 Chair Valerie Mason told Patch.

Background

The new homeless shelter at the corner of First Avenue and East 61st Street was first announced in a Jan. 21 Community Board 8 meeting.

The new shelter, which will open in April, will be operated by Housing Solutions of New York. It will have 200 beds for single adults, and offer a range of services, including case management, counseling, job placement assistance and help securing permanent housing.

Because the facility is located within 1,000 feet of a school, it will be subject to additional restrictions. Women on probation or parole for sex offenses will not be permitted to stay at the shelter, and residents will be required to follow an 11 p.m. curfew.

At first, it was going to be a men's shelter, but after constituent feedback, Councilmember Julie Menin announced it would be a women's shelter instead, and pushed back the opening of the shelter by a month.

The public hearing

The Feb. 9 public hearing will be at the Caspary Auditorium at The Rockefeller University, located at 1230 York Ave. between East 66th Street and East 67th Street. The hearing will start at 6 p.m.

"I know people are going to let off steam. That's what we're here for. I just want them to do it in a respectful manner. That's all," Mason told Patch. "I just hope that people will come with an open mind and listen to the presentation and, you know, we'll see how it transpires."

The meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format. Attendees can participate either in person or via Zoom. Individuals interested in attending the meeting, whether in person or via Zoom, must register here.

Registration is also required for those who wish to speak during the public hearing.

To submit written comments ahead of the public hearing, go here.

For questions and tips, email Miranda.Levingston@Patch.com.