In a significant step forward in New York City’s efforts to manage its asylum seeker crisis, Mayor Eric Adams announced on Tuesday, December 10th, that 25 shelters, including the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Floyd Bennett Field, will close over the next two months. This announcement comes after 22 consecutive weeks of declining asylum seeker numbers in the city’s shelters, bringing the census to its lowest point in more than 17 months.
Mayor Adams highlighted that the city’s proactive approach to managing asylum seekers has played a crucial role in reducing shelter numbers. The approach, which involves focused case management, reticketing, and the implementation of 30 and 60-day notice policies, has assisted migrants in moving out of the city’s shelter system and advancing toward greater self-sufficiency.
“Thanks to our smart management strategies, we’ve turned the corner, and this additional slate of shelter closures we’re announcing today is even more proof that we’re managing this crisis better than any other city in the nation,” said Mayor Adams. “Our intensive case management, paired with 30 and 60-day policies, have helped more than 170,000 migrants take their next steps on their journeys, because migrants don’t come here to live in our shelter system — they come here to pursue the American Dream.”
The closure of shelters in the Bronx, Brooklyn, and Manhattan are part of a broader effort to reduce costs and increase efficiency. These closures are expected to result in a projected savings of $2.3 billion over the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years.
Molly Schaeffer, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Office of Asylum Seeker Operations, emphasized the importance of Floyd Bennett Field during the height of the crisis. “At the height of this humanitarian response, the Floyd Bennett Field activation served as a relief valve to provide critical shelter and resources to hundreds of families at their greatest time of need,” Schaeffer said. “Today’s announcement is a direct reflection of the tireless commitment of our teams and the tremendous work they do every day to ensure that people are ready to move on to the next steps in their journeys to self-sufficiency.”
The Asylum Application Help Center has played a key role in assisting nearly 87,000 migrants with applying for work authorization, temporary protected status, and asylum. Furthermore, more than 70% of eligible adults in the city’s care have either received or submitted applications for work authorization, supporting their path to greater self-sufficiency.
With these closures, the Adams administration is continuing to streamline shelter operations, reduce long-term costs, and ensure that New York City leads the nation in managing the asylum seeker crisis.
