NYC emergency shelters for migrants have no rooms

Mayor Eric Adams wasn’t kidding when he stated “there’s no room on the inn.” 

The inflow of migrants into New York has gotten so dangerous that overfilled transient motels are telling determined refugees they need to return to the bus station for additional steerage — and the town is scrambling to open extra shelters.

“The shelter is at full capability,” one couple was informed Friday on the Stewart Lodge on Seventh Avenue – which is meant to be one of many metropolis’s 4 Humanitarian Emergency Response and Aid Facilities.

The household, who traveled from Ecuador with two younger youngsters, informed The Publish in Spanish that they have been directed by resort workers “to go to forty first and Eighth, Port Authority.”

Close by, an indication might be seen with the bus station deal with.

The scenario — by which 36,400 migrants have come via New York since final June — has reached the purpose that the town has quietly put out a request for bids to open up one other mega-shelter, in keeping with data obtained by The Publish.

The request was put out on Dec. 28 by the town Financial Growth Company.

Within the request, officers stated they’re even contemplating housing the migrants outdoors the town in different components of the state.

“There aren’t any geographic restrictions inside New York State. All proposals inside New York State can be thought of,” reads a duplicate of the doc.

The desperation of the Huge Apple’s migrant disaster might be simply seen Friday at motels such because the Stewart.

The doorways to the situation have been locked and staff have been solely opening them for “visitors” with blue lanyards round their necks, the reporter noticed.

Two indicators have been additionally on the doorways: one with the deal with for Port Authority and the opposite with the deal with for shelter for single males and households.

One mom stated she’s been coming round for 3 days attempting to get a room on the Stewart.

“I used to be right here until 10:30 final night time attempting to get a room,” the mother stated. “My daughter actually wants shelter. She has a fever from sucking up the chilly nowadays.

“I don’t perceive, right here [at the Stewart] they inform me to go to Port Authority, however I’ve already been and Port Authority sends me proper again right here and says there’s capability right here. I’ve referred to as the numbers of the opposite motels however all of them say they’re full, there’s nothing.” 

A employee at one other mega-shelter resort — The Wolcott at 4 W. thirty first St. — informed a pair who was attempting to verify in that the place was full they usually couldn’t keep there, however would assist them discover one other shelter.

The Wolcott web site additionally tried to dissuade guests.

“It’s with a heavy coronary heart that I need to inform you that the Wolcott Lodge can be closed to transient resort visitors indefinitely,” it stated. “With the present Delta variant and uncertainty when journey will return, I really feel that is one of the best plan of action for the resort and her staff for the close to future.”

The 2 different mega-shelters for migrants are situated at The Row Lodge, 700 Eighth Ave., and the Watson Lodge at 440 W. 57th St.

At The Row, there was an especially chaotic scene of children operating round and migrants searching for assist. There was an extended line of individuals ready to be scanned with ID playing cards whereas others lingered outdoors after being rejected.

“Sadly there’s no extra rooms accessible, however you may go to Port Authority and on the second flooring there are individuals who can direct you to a different resort,” one staffer stated.

On the Watson males’s shelter, there was a ready checklist to get in. One man ready outdoors was informed there have been three individuals forward of him and he stated he would wait his flip.

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A discover on the Watson resort web site reads: “The Watson Lodge NY has suspended operations till additional discover.”

The dire discovery comes on the heels of Adams’ declaration Tuesday that the inflow of over 36,000 migrants – and certain more coming from Colorado – has left “no room on the inn.”

The mayor has requested $1 billion from the federal authorities, however throughout a collection of media appearances Friday morning, Adams stated that determine may enhance to $1.5 billion this fiscal 12 months.

A spokesperson for Metropolis Corridor stated Friday that the town has “expanded capability” at sure mega-shelters and continues to open new emergency shelter motels to accommodate the inflow of migrants.

However President Biden has dedicated only $8 million to assist the Huge Apple deal with the migrant disaster.

Adams stated President Biden must enact stronger border insurance policies.

 “[I]t’s simply unfair for locations like El Paso, Washington, New York, Chicago, these cities shouldn’t be dealing with a nationwide downside. Our nationwide authorities should cope with the border concern, and we should obtain the assets,” Adams stated in a  PIX11 interview Friday morning.

On Thursday, Biden unveiled a new border policy that can permit entry to a mixed 30,000 migrants a month from Cuba, Nicaragua, Haiti and Venezuela — while ordering deportation of those that illegally entered the US from these international locations, however doesn’t deal with the hundreds extra coming from different international locations. 

Metropolis officers haven’t specified the prices to finance the emergency hotel-mega-shelters, however The Publish estimated the annual price ticket to offer meals, shelter and companies may exceed $300 million, primarily based on prices of sheltering homeless people in motels throughout the coronavirus pandemic.

A rep for the NYC resort trade stated operators are willing to pitch in and provide rooms.

“Inns will take part on a voluntary foundation, primarily based on their particular person circumstances and what’s being proposed,” stated NYC Lodge Affiliation spokesperson Lisa Linden.

Throughout a Dec. 19 Metropolis Council listening to, a consultant from the town’s Well being & Hospital system stated the 4 present mega-shelters have been nearing capability with roughly 5,000 migrants housed mixed between the areas.