New York City is facing a homelessness and affordable housing crisis. On May 29, 2024, 86,432 people slept in the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelter system.

The W. 74th St. women’s shelter is part of an effort to expand shelter capacity in neighborhoods across the city to meet the needs of our homeless neighbors (and provide trained clinicians and staff members who will support residents' needs). Upper West Siders can and should welcome that!

Here’s why:

• Shelters give people the opportunity to come inside, receive needed services, and search for permanent housing. Can you imagine apartment searching when sleeping outside, without access to storage, showers, or housing search help? 

• The 74th St. site includes space for recreational programming as well as a terrace, so residents can come together for community and fresh air - just like fellow UWS neighbors! 

• The provider, VOA-GNY, will provide economic empowerment programming to help connect residents with living-wage employment–helping them build the financial stability to stay housed once they exit shelter. Staff members will assess the needs of clients for economic empowerment services and develop relationships with community partners who can offer programming and resources to residents.

• There is no evidence that homeless shelters make communities less safe, and that includes shelters like this one.

• There’s also no evidence that the presence of a shelter is harmful to children. Rather, our children’s sense of justice and service can be enriched by seeing you welcome individuals who have less than your family, and joining in to make them feel at home.

• The use of the Calhoun building as a shelter is generally compatible with the place of the building as part of a historic district and will not result in major changes to the facade. Changes to the building designed to make it more accessible were approved in January by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.

• The suite of services that are offered at shelters across the city will also be offered at this shelter, including security guards and cameras, and residents will also be subject to the rules and responsibilities that apply to all Department of Homeless Services shelter residents.

• Stopping the W. 74th St. shelter would not make our homeless neighbors go away, but it would leave them without desperately needed additional indoor shelter space.  We can welcome shelter residents and support permanent housing at the same time! Here are some ways you can advocate for affordable housing in New York City right now:

  • Get involved with efforts like Housing Justice for All to join the fight on the state level for bills like the Tenant Opportunity to Purchase Act.

  • Join us in supporting upcoming projects that would provide permanent affordable housing on the Upper West Side, like this 100% affordable project by the Fortune Society which will be converting an illegal hotel on W. 97th St to 82 affordable units with social services on site.

On the Upper West Side, we don't turn our backs on our neighbors in need–we welcome them with open arms. UWS families and community organizations have an important role to play in welcoming and supporting new neighbors & holding the shelter provider accountable to the needs of shelter residents. We're excited for our families to be a part of that, and hope that shelter opponents will be as well.

Signed by the following residents in support:

Barbara Okishoff, 74th St. Resident

Emma Woods, 74th St. Resident

Roger Thomas, Nearby neighbor (73-75th St.)

Evan Metz, Nearby neighbor (73-75th St.)

Andrew Reisman, Nearby neighbor (73-75th St.)

Christiana Johnson, 10023 Resident

Kate Kearns, 10023 Resident

Susannah Schaff, 10023 Resident

Kelsey Amick, 10023 Resident

Mia Vucetovic, 10023 Resident

Anne Kemper, 10023 Resident

Kim Allen, 10023 Resident

Alex Brass, 10023 Resident

Alee Petrucelli, 10024 Resident

Jamie Uhrig, 10024 Resident

Parry Creedon, 10024 Resident

Feygele Jacobs, 10024 Resident

Catherine Gross, 10024 Resident

Sindhuja Vaidhyanathan, 10024 Resident

Lian Valera, 10024 Resident

Ejlat Feuer, 10024 Resident

Dr. Steve Auerbach, 10024 Resident

Elizabeth Slote, 10024 Resident

Cathy Loup, 10024 Resident

Thomas Batson, 10024 Resident

Kim Steinhorn, 10024 Resident

Elizabeth Stillwell, 10025 Resident