On the afternoon of October 22, New York State Senator Julia Salazar held a press conference in Brooklyn to announce her proposed legislation aimed at limiting city funding for hotel-style shelters for the homeless. Senator Salazar articulated that the intent behind this proposal is to prevent corruption between government officials and private developers. By placing restrictions on these subsidies, she hopes to encourage the city to redirect resources toward the construction of more affordable housing.

Using the intersection of 86th Street and Avenue U as a case study, Salazar criticized current practices where the city and developers transform hotels into shelters under the guise of providing accommodations for the homeless, all while reaping significant profits. She pointed out that this not only wastes taxpayer money but also fails to effectively address the homeless crisis.

The proposal is set to be introduced when the state Senate reconvenes next year. It aims to have the city consider Section 8 Voucher standards when determining the maximum daily payments to social service organizations or their third-party partners, establishing that the city’s daily payments for temporary shelter contracts cannot exceed 75% of the affordable housing subsidy rate.

Senator Salazar emphasized that government resources should be focused on providing long-term stable housing solutions. She criticized the ineffectiveness of current practices, which lead to waste and corruption, while stressing the importance of utilizing existing resources and policy tools, such as construction loans and tax incentives for affordable housing development, to enhance community well-being. She also highlighted how the ongoing protests against the shelter on 86th Street have significantly disrupted the lives of local residents, expressing a desire to address the issue at its root through legislation.

Additionally, the proposal seeks to exempt certain areas, including parts of Upper Manhattan, and specific community boards in Brooklyn and Queens from these spending limits. According to Salazar’s office, hotel operators in these regions would not rely on converting to shelters for profit, whereas operators in neighborhoods like Bensonhurst would need stable income and long-term contracts with the city to adapt to these changes.

Beyond this new proposal, Senator Salazar stated her commitment to advancing the Housing Access Voucher Program initiated by Senator Brian Kavanagh in 2023, which aims to reduce homelessness through housing subsidies based on applicants’ income and local area. The program intends to set regulations that prevent eviction due to inability to pay rent and requires local governments to maintain existing homeless assistance programs, ensuring that new initiatives do not diminish current support levels.

As protests against the shelter on 86th Street reach their 98th day, residents continue to rally daily from 5 AM to 8 PM, vigilantly guarding against any unauthorized construction by developers.