A former Manhattan College dorm has been transformed into a migrant shelter in the Riverdale section of the Bronx, leading to backlash from residents of the area.
Bronx Councilmember Eric Dinowitz released a statement Tuesday saying that furniture was moved into 435 West 238th Street which used to be a dorm building for Manhattan College students.
Dozens of neighbors held a protest when word first spread of a possible shelter in the area.
The shelter has 95 rooms and will be run by WestHab, a nonprofit organization that provides supportive and affordable housing, according to Dinowitz. He says there is a nine-month contract for the shelter. The city said it is not contracted to be a permanent or long-term facility.
A DSS spokesperson released a statement on the opening of the shelter. “Since Spring of 2022, over 210,000 asylum seekers have arrived in New York City and gone through shelter intake. Hundreds of asylum seekers in need of shelter are still arriving each week, pushing our shelter system to its limit. It is therefore imperative that we continue to open new facilities across the city, as necessary, to meet the growing need for shelter. This site will provide 95 asylum-seeking families with a safe and secure place to stay and will be operated by our experienced not-for-profit provider, Westhab, who will supply, meals, connections to services, and referrals to dedicated supports.”
