Since last summer, over 44,000 Asylum Seekers have arrived on their own or been transported to New York City without regard for their wellbeing. Hundreds of asylum seekers continue to arrive each week. The NYC shelter system, hotels and alternative housing sites have been overwhelmed as asylum seekers try to find safe shelter while awaiting immigration court proceedings. While most are single men, single women and families with children are also arriving. Many of these fellow global citizens in crisis have fled unimaginable conditions in their country of origin and then experienced an arduous journey on their way to New York City.
The city has been providing hotels, homeless shelters, and other mass care spaces as housing on a temporary basis. We are proposing to fund congregations, of any faith tradition, to provide temporary small group shelter housing to single adult male and female asylees. The program would provide shelter for the next 12-24 months while all of us continue to call on the state and Federal government to help address this need for more permanent housing.
We are seeking houses of worship that:
-Are located near subway or bus lines.
-Have a 900+ Square Feet space to sleep 19 asylees from approximately 7PM to 7AM – 24/7/365
-Have space for 19 asylees to be served and sit to eat meals. –
-Will hire or have a security guard.
-Will hire or have a volunteer Shelter Coordinator.
-Will provide all guests with a hot dinner and a hot or cold breakfast.
-Provide access to bathrooms and showers (shower installation grants are being considered in the absence of onsite showers).
-Training/Technical Support as well as Cots/Bedding/Towels & Storage Trunks will be provided.
-Adhere to key NYC building and fire safety code requirements.
In exchange for your hospitality, congregations will be paid a monthly fee – to cover all required operating expenses related to meeting each asylees’ basic human needs and to offset space use costs
Click here if your house of worship will be able to help.
