According to data obtained by Gothamist from the city’s emergency management agency, out of the approximately 1,600 asylum seekers who come to the city’s East Village intake center each day, only an average of 30 are willing to move to another city or state.
Mayor Eric Adams’ administration made the decision to reduce the length of time that adult migrants can stay at city-run shelters to 30 days in September. This move was aimed at alleviating the strain on an already overwhelmed system and creating more available space.
Hundreds of adult migrants have been inundating the intake center, which is situated at the former St. Brigid School on East 7th Street, for several months.
Once they arrive, the migrants have two options. They can choose to reapply for temporary housing, which is funded by taxpayers. This could potentially result in them being sent to hotels in upstate locations. Alternatively, they can opt for a free one-way bus or plane ticket.
According to the data collected from December 17 to March 3, it was found that only 15% of the migrants, on average, were successful in finding another bed after attempting to re-enter the shelter system at the East Village intake center following their 30-day eviction notice.
According to a spokesperson from City Hall, New York City has paid a total of $7.6 million to relocate migrants out of the city since the spring of 2022.
Some of the top destinations for travelers include various parts of New York state, Illinois, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Minnesota, Georgia, Virginia, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
The exact amount of money paid at the East Village center out of the $7.6 million has not been disclosed yet. Asylum seekers also have the option to be transferred to other shelters, such as the city’s primary intake center at the Roosevelt Hotel, where they can receive reticketing services. Unfortunately, information regarding the amount of money paid at these alternative reticketing sites is currently unavailable.
City officials, on the other hand, emphasize that around 60% of the migrants who have passed through New York City’s shelter system since spring 2022, which amounts to approximately 113,000 individuals, have already “progressed to the next stages of their journeys.” This category encompasses asylum seekers who are no longer under the city’s supervision as they either sustain themselves or have departed using their own resources.
According to a representative from City Hall, the primary objective is to assist individuals in transitioning out of shelter and achieving greater self-sufficiency. They are committed to achieving this through a targeted approach that includes intensive case management, reticketing, and legal support.
“We appreciate the help we’ve received from our federal partners so far, but we require more assistance. It is crucial for the federal government to complete the task they initiated by granting expedited work authorization to a greater number of asylum seekers, offering additional financial support to New York City, and implementing a comprehensive strategy for decompression and resettlement.”
