Group of Bed Stuy Residents Says No to Proposed Homeless Shelter on Bedford Avenue

A group of Bed Stuy residents opposes a proposed new homeless shelter at 1217 Bedford Avenue in Bed Stuy, in an old office building, and are circulating a petition against it.

The plan calls for 50 beds plus a drop-in center for 75 people.

The neighborhood already has more than its fair share of shelters, the petitioners argue. “This disproportionate amount of shelters here over other districts is mind boggling and begins to call into question racial and social economic injustice,” said Omar Walker, a lifelong Bed Stuy resident and architect who is one of the authors of the petition.

The proposed location is close to three schools, a playground, and another homeless shelter, the Sumner Armory on Marcus Garvey and Jefferson Avenue. There are already 828 beds in shelters in CB3, according to those opposed.

“While we respect that homelessness is a serious issue in New York City…other areas should be considered,” the petitioners said in an email to Brownstoner.

The office building at 1217 Bedford Avenue was previously home to Concord Family Services, a nonprofit foster care agency that was charged with fraud in 2008, according to news reports at the time.

The petition has gotten more than 180 signatures online and 100 in person since it went up a few days ago, the organizers said.

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