NYN Media Homeless Shelter Tracker

Updated Sept. 8, 2017

With the number of New Yorkers lacking permanent housing at an all-time high, New York City Mayor de Blasio announced an ambitious effort to open 90 homeless shelters across the city. The effort, "Turning the Tide on Homelessness" will aim to close 360 cluster sites and hotels, and aim to open about 20 shelters annually. While some have been met with controversy, others have been welcomed by neighbors and members of the community. 

In response to historic criticism that shelters had opened overnight with little community oversight, the de Blasio administration has pledged to increase transparency into the process. Under the administration's plan, when a shelter is approved, the Department of Homeless Services will notify the community board and local elected officials 30 days before opening a new facility, or 30 days before the community-based organization's public hearing with DHS to operate the shelter. Additionally, 30 days before opening the facility, DHS will gather input from those elected officials, work with the New York Police Department and then implement any feasible suggestions into its plan.

We are mapping out new facilities opening as part of the Turning the Tide effort and aggregating information related to the development of de Blasio’s 90-shelter initiative. Shelters that replace cluster sites are not reflected on our tracker. They do not reflect a net gain in units, a city official said.  

We hope to help concerned nonprofits hold the administration accountable for their promise to open these shelters in a more transparent and community-engaged way.

If you have updates about a shelter in the development process email us: editor [at] nynmedia.com.

Significant Developments on Shelter-related Issues:

11/2/2017 -- Despite numerous attempts by residents to rid themselves of a homeless shelter and affordable housing site in the Fordham section of the Bronx, residents at a nearby cooperative will have to get used to the site and its occupants, the Norwood News.

8/30/2017 -- Mayor Bill de Blasio’s plan for expanding homeless shelters is facing a new hurdle from a lawsuit filed by Assemblyman Mark Gjonaj in the Bronx, who joined with community leaders to fight the disproportionate siting of homeless shelters, the New York Post.

8/29/2017 -- The Department of Homeless Services is quietly finalizing more than $98 million in contracts that would turn five cluster site apartment buildings into homeless shelters, and maintain six more as cluster sites for at least the next three years, Gothamist.

5/15/2017 -- Attorneys for residents suing over Bergen Street shelter say they are close to a deal with the city, DNAinfo

5/8/2017 -- City to hire a liaison to help mend relationships with communities angered by the opening of shelters in Central Brooklyn, DNAinfo