April 1st Arrives with No Cancellation of Controversial Boro Park Homeless Shelter

By Y.M. Lowy

Boro Park’s fight against the proposed homeless shelter at 5001 10th Avenue and 1016 50th Street has reached a critical moment, as the scheduled arrival date for homeless families has passed with no cancellation announced.

Despite overwhelming opposition from the community - rallies, petitions, protests, and letters - city officials have ignored the calls for reconsideration. As of today, April 1st, the scheduled arrival date passed, and it seems the shelter is moving forward as planned.

The community’s resistance was clear from the beginning. On February 25th, a packed community board meeting saw an unusually large turnout of residents, many of whom had never attended such a meeting before. The overwhelming majority voiced opposition, with only a few officials supporting the proposal.

BoroPark24 also conducted a poll that showed 97% of locals believed the shelter would harm the neighborhood, with just 3% in favor. A petition launched by BoroPark24 gathered over 2,300 verified signatures.

The fight reached its peak on March 13th, when Boro Park residents rallied on Taanis Esther afternoon. With most schools closed in preparation for Purim, the rally brought together residents from all backgrounds, determined to protect the neighborhood’s safety and character. The protest was loud and clear, but still, no reconsideration came.

Even with strong support from local officials like New York State Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein, Senator Simcha Felder, Assemblyman Kalman Yeger, Assemblyman Lester Chang, and Community Board 12, who penned letters demanding the project be stopped, the city remained steadfast in its decision. 

April 1st has arrived, and despite all efforts, there has been no cancellation or reconsideration from the city.