Friday 14 October 2022 06:01 PM Queens housing 32% of migrants even though there are 'not enough resources' trends now
Nearly 15,000 migrants in New York City will be distributed across its five boroughs, with Queens housing the most despite its borough president saying it does not have enough resources to do so.
Queens will house 4,782 of the 14,777 migrants, or 32 percent, according to the Department of Homeless Services.
'It's a powder keg in Queens at this point,' said Queens Borough President Donovan Richards.
Brooklyn will house the second-most, with 3,906 (26 percent), followed by Manhattan with 2,913 (20 percent), the Bronx with 2,587 (18 percent) and Staten Island with 589 (4 percent).
'There are several crises. You have a recession coming. We have a lack of affordable housing, rising rents. We have food insecurity. This is a recipe for a social and economic disaster,' Richards said.
Earlier this week, Mayor Eric Adams warned each borough that 'every community is going to see asylum-seekers' and that the city 'can't give people a month heads-up' before migrants are moved into the communities.
'As the emergency comes, we have to make these on-the-ground moves and make sure that we deal with the crisis that's in front of us,' Adams said.
Migrants have been sent to local hotels - including Times Square-adjacent, $700-a-night Row NYC - and housing shelters.
Queens Borough President Donovan Richards responded to a decision by the city to send nearly one-third of the 15,000 migrants to Queens, adding that it is 'a recipe for a social and economic disaster'
Construction takes place of a new facility to house migrants on Randall's Island
Construction takes place of a new facility to house migrants on Randalls Island, New York. 14 October 2022. The future 'tent city' is meant to house 500 migrants
Cot beds can be seen as construction takes place of a new facility to house migrants on Randalls Island, New York. 14 October 2022
The inside of one tent shows several cot beds adjacent each other, with included pillows and sheets
It is unknown how many tent-like structures will be constructed
The Randall's Island project follows a failed Brooklyn tent-city idea that was scrapped because of flooding
Restroom and shower facilities can be seen at the new Randall's Island project
According to the New York Post, some Staten Island-based migrants are staying at the Staten Island Inn, a Holiday Inn and Fairfield Inn and Suites Marriott.
The Staten Island Inn is currently fully booked.
In Queens, Richards said the borough does not have 'enough bilingual teachers and or mental health counselors' to support incoming migrant families.
'It's beyond ridiculous,' he said. 'We open our arms to everyone, but we definitely need resources.'
Adams declared a state of emergency over the crisis and has said the Big Apple needed $1 billion in federal funding to deal with the influx of people.
Desperate for solutions to the crisis, a frantic Mayor Adams has even suggested renting out cruise ships for temporary housing of the city's newest residents until their immigration situations are sorted.
The city is currently building a 'tent city' on Randall's Island, which is expected to house 500.
Mayor Eric Adams declared a state of emergency and said each borough will be bringing in migrants
In response to the sudden surge of migrants, Adams said 'we can't give people a month heads-up' before migrants are moved into communities
Migrants will be moved into local hotels, like $700-a-night Row NYC, and housing shelters, some of which are already at capacity
Hundreds - if not thousands - of asylum seekers will be moved to chic rooms such as this one
A recent influx of migrants conflates with an ongoing homeless shelter crisis within the city.
New York City reported a 31 percent increase in its homeless shelter population between October 1, 2021 and September 30, 2022, according to data released by the Office of the New York State Comptroller.
'The surge in the city's homeless shelter population is straining shelter capacity and is projected to surpass its previous peak of 61,415,' the data reads.
An estimated 60,008 were counted living in city's homeless shelters as of September 30.
'A plan was developed to build new, “purpose-built,” nonprofit-operated shelters; however, many of these were put on hold during the pandemic and in the transition to the Adams administration,' reads the comptroller's most recent report.
'As the number of homeless people has surged in recent months, the city has utilized emergency procurement to open 42 new shelter locations, many of them hotels.'
Paying for a single adult in a shelter costs the city an average of $136 per night, while an adult family costs $172 and $188 for a family with children.
'Rising rents are likely to both increase the need for shelter, as struggling New Yorkers are unable to find affordable housing, and increase the of cost providing shelter, as the City must find more housing in a tight market,' it continues.
In the last 12 months, New York City rent has risen by 19 percent on average.
Rent in Queens, the borough to receive the largest number of migrants, has increased just under 14 percent in the last year. Manhattan's rent has risen the most of the five boroughs, jumping 20 percent.
Adams declared a state of emergency over the crisis, and has said the Big Apple needed $1 billion in federal funding to deal
