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Chaos and anger erupted Monday in New York City’s Upper East Side as residents packed a public meeting to protest a planned homeless shelter they say is “for profit.”
The women’s shelter, which was converted from a men’s center after a major public pushback, is expected to open in April and will accommodate up to 250 women.
At a Community Board 8 Manhattan meeting hosted by Housing Solutions of New York (HSNY), opponents raised the alarm about the shelter’s proximity to schools and daycare centers. Residents also accused city officials of deliberately rushing the plan to reduce community inclusion, rushing a deal they say appears to benefit developers who don’t care about neighborhood welfare.
The city reportedly told local leaders in early 2025 that the project was closed for good, but announced it as an operational and near-complete facility in January 2026, leaving the community with weeks to plan before it opens.
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Residents walk the streets of the Carnegie Hill neighborhood in New York on June 27, 2023. (Gabby Jones/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
“What makes us sad is the lack of notice and the wrong place. It shouldn’t be here,” said community member Bonnie Barend, criticizing the suitability of the site.
“And I’m also angry about the way you spoke to these great citizens here tonight. They care about their community. They care about your safety, the safety of their children. We shouldn’t be looking down on anyone here.”
In response, city and other local representatives emphasized the urgent need for homeless services in underserved counties.
To address concerns, the board said the facility would include heavy security, strict curfews and a ban on residents with a specific criminal history, especially women on probation or parole for sex crimes because of the nearby school.
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A homeless man sleeps on the street in New York City. (Deb Cohn-Orbach Team/UCG/Universal Images via Getty Images)
However, when HSNY Chief Program Officer Xellex Rivera explained that they only ask newcomers about their criminal history, the crowd erupted in anger, with one citizen yelling, “It’s not allowed. That’s not a background check.”
Rivera responded, “That’s fair enough. I agree with everybody 100%. That’s fine.” Rivera added that while it can screen sex offender registrants, it cannot conduct full criminal background checks.
Some residents have expressed concern about the location’s proximity to legal marijuana and a Home Depot, saying tools sold there could be used as weapons and suggesting security guards should be armed. A local father also cited a recent tragedy at a Long Island City shelter to highlight the potential dangers to children.
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A woman tries to get out of a windy passage with her clothes Feb. 17, 2025, New York City. (Robert Nickelsberg/Getty Images)
Tensions continued as community members and city officials continued to clash, with one resident yelling at board chair Valerie Mason, “You’re not talking to us!”
During the uproar, the president added, “There’s something that sounds disturbing but if you’re going to yell at me, it’s no use putting it on the air.”
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Board member Todd “TJ” Stein also expressed disappointment in the process, saying, “This, unfortunately, was not a very well-run meeting. And that’s just bad. … We as a community have had three weeks of this information thrown at us.”
Closing her words, Valerie Mason acknowledged the atmosphere, saying, “I know it didn’t start out so well, but people were aggressive and didn’t want to understand how this program works.”
