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Although last month the nonprofit Help USA withdrew its proposal to run a homeless shelter at 400 McGuinness Boulevard in Greenpoint, another nonprofit—Bowery Residents Committee—now wants to operate a 200-bed shelter for homeless men in the building. The Daily News reports that the new plan is once again unpopular with many in the neighborhood. One resident is quoted as saying that the “project could destroy our block,” and the article says around 1,500 members of the community have sent the city letters voicing opposition to the proposal.
Greenpoint Residents Seeing Red Over Proposed Homeless Shelter [NY Daily News] GMAP
Greenpoint Homeless Shelter Proposal Scrapped [Brownstoner]


What's Your Take? Leave a Comment

  1. Well, there are tone in my neighborhood too and plenty of neighborhoods where there are few. My community is tired of being a dumping ground and the Bedford Armory center does nothing for these men. They stand around outside the shelter and have been responsible for robberies, muggings etc. I’ve also donated. And I am also glad there is help but that doesn’t mean the city should dump all these homeless shelters on a few neighborhoods. In fact, it isn’t supposed to, under the Fair Share rules.

    The city funnels the homeless and mentally ill to shelters and halfway houses. The city also sets them up. It isn’t only a matter of more bang for the buck but how does it help to have a shelter that is hard to get to, and not close to amenities like health care or stores. Sorry but as the biggest problem is in Manahttan, that’s where they should be concentrating- they have armories, they have city-owned space, just like they do in the other boroughs. Closing the Bellevue intake center and forcing the homeless all the way out here is wrong- and not a help.

  2. Tons! hundreds of beds, probably. I live within a few blocks of a multitude of shelters, some for men, some for women and children, some for alcoholics; in addition, there is a soup kitchen on my very own street, a couple of blocks away, that doubles up as NA and AA meeting space. I’ve donated money, clothes (and time, before I had a child); I have no problem with shelters in my neighborhood.
    Is it annoying to have passed-out drunk guys sleeping in their own vomit at 8AM? Sure, but I’m glad the BRC is there to help, and frankly, for the 3 or 4 problematic men who are high or aggressive, most are just down on their luck and trying their best. I still know people who volunteer their time, and I understand why they are moving, wanting to get the most space for their buck.

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