Park Slope/Kensington City Council Member Brad Lander today pleaded with Kensington residents to accept a homeless shelter for 64 families with Children at 385 McDonald Avenue between Albemarle Road and Church Avenue in Kensington.
In an emailed newsletter to constituents, Lander stated that like the local residents, he just recently became aware of the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to establish a shelter at the vacant site – a former college dorm and, before that, an assisted living facility – that will open its doors in the next several weeks.
“Of course there is a lot of anxiety in the community. Almost no one wants a new shelter located next door, especially when it is done on such short notice, and with no real community voice,” wrote Lander. “But still, I hope that during this week of gratitude for our blessings, we can show compassion for homeless New Yorkers, including our future neighbors at 385 McDonald Avenue. So, I’m asking you to try, this Thanksgiving week, to approach the situation with compassion, and begin the work of problem-solving to address any issues that arise.”
Lander noted he sincerely wished that the City provided more notice to communities about new shelters, but current policy provides only 7 days notice to allow emergency contracting provisions in the City Charter.
“Still, I believe that every community must do its fair share to help end homelessness. New Yorkers have a legal right to shelter. And it’s also the right thing to do. Right now, we have 60,000 homeless New Yorkers housed in hundreds of shelters, in neighborhoods all over New York City,” he said.
Lander said CAMBA, the operator selected to run the shelter, is a Brooklyn-based not-for-profit organization with a very good, 35-year track record in the district. CAMBA has been operating a shelter at the Park Slope Armory (that shelters a more intensive population – for women with a history of substance abuse or mental illness) since 1996, and in 2013 it expanded from 70 to 100 women with very few complaints from neighbors.
“My own kids went to school directly across the street from the Park Slope Women’s Shelter, at PS 107, from Pre-K through 5th grade. The Armory functions as the gym for PS 107, so the kids walk by the shelter on a daily basis. Over the 11 years my kids attended PS 107, I am not aware of a single incident that my kids, their friends, or any of their classmates experienced. And that shelter is larger and is for single women with histories of substance abuse and mental illness,” said Lander.
Lander also noted that Captain Ken Quick from the 66th Police Precinct has already been pushing to make sure a good plan is in place – so there will be security cameras, a security guard in front of the facility, more school safety officers, and a commitment to provide some extra NYPD eyes on-site at school dismissal and after schools.
The city and Lander’s office will also hold a community meeting to address all issues relating to the shelter. The meeting is slated for 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 10 at PS 230, 1 Albemarle Road. Officials from DHS, the DOE and City Hall are expected to attend to answer any questions.
