Community Board 12 Meeting Over Proposed Homeless Shelter

By Y.M. Lowy

The Department of Social Services presented a proposal to build a homeless shelter in Boro Park at 5001 10th Avenue and 1016 50th Street during Community Board 12’s monthly meeting.

The meeting drew an unusually large crowd, with many residents who would never attend such a meeting but making it a point to attend to voice their opposition. The room was packed, and the overwhelming majority spoke against the shelter, while only a small group of officials supported it.

Concerns ran high as residents questioned why NYC is shutting down shelters elsewhere while pushing to open one in Boro Park, a neighborhood with an exceptionally low homeless rate. Many feared this move would not only overwhelm local infrastructure but permanently alter the fabric of the community. The proposed site sits within two blocks of a hospital, a rehab center, and an already overcrowded public school - raising serious doubts about how the area could absorb the influx of 82 families with children. But beyond logistical concerns, the biggest worry was safety. Residents voiced strong fears that the shelter would disrupt the neighborhood’s stability, and change Boro Park’s landscape forever.

Supporters claimed that not all homeless individuals pose a threat and argued that the shelter’s impact would be minimal. They insisted that Boro Park has the infrastructure to accommodate it and that fears about crime and disruption are exaggerated.

A representative of State Senator Steve Chan stated that he strongly opposes the shelter. Some believe that if Kalmen Yeager were still on the City Council, he would have pushed to shut down the proposal entirely; however, with the seat currently vacant, supporters saw this as the ideal opportunity to move forward with the plan.

What do you think? Could this shelter impact neighborhood safety? Cast your vote and share your opinion on BoroPark24.

photos by: Zevi Klein/BoroPark24