NEW YORK, CMC – New York City Mayor Eric Adams has created a faith-based shelter program that will allow up to 50 houses of worship or faith-based spaces to offer overnight shelter for up to 19 single adult Caribbean and other men at each location seeking asylum.
The new, two-year partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) comes as the city continues to care for more than 46,000 asylum seekers,
Many asylum seekers are nationals from Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela.
The mayor said faith-based partnerships have played “a critical role in the city’s response to the asylum seeker humanitarian crisis,” adding that “at full scale, this program will host nearly 1,000 asylum seekers, with potential for further expansion.
“No matter what faith you practice, caring for those in need is part of every spiritual tradition. As we continue to tackle this humanitarian crisis, I’m proud that through this new partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, New York City’s faith community will be able to provide shelter to asylum seekers in need at houses of worship throughout the five boroughs,” said Adams.
“Not only will this increase our space by nearly 1,000 beds, but it will also connect asylum seekers with local communities. New York City continues to do all we can to address this crisis, but we need additional assistance from other partners.”
Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services, Anne Williams-Isom, said the city’s response to the asylum seeker crisis has not only required a whole-of-government effort but has also taken a citywide effort that includes nonprofits, community organizations, volunteers, and the faith community.
“Today’s announcement with houses of worship, NYDIS, and the city demonstrates the strength of this response to meet the ongoing need. Thank you to NYDIS and the faith community for joining us in this work to support people seeking asylum.”
Pastor Gil Monrose, executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Faith-Based and Community Partnerships, said the city has witnessed an unprecedented influx of asylum seekers coming to New York City since last spring.
“They are escaping violence, oppression, poverty, and, like all of us, want to live and support their families in peace. New York City is the city of immigrants, as attested by the words of Emma Lazarus engraved on the inner pedestal of the Statue of Liberty: ‘Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,'” said Pastor Monrose, who hails from St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands.
“I am grateful that faith leaders are opening their doors to asylum seekers — providing their space and the hands of the community to care for them. New York is truly a city of faith.”
Adams said the faith-based shelter program would offer a full suite of services, including dining and social areas, shower facilities, meals, storage space, and more.
The mayor said the city has already spent over US$1.2 billion on the crisis this fiscal year alone and is projected to spend more than US$4.3 billion by the end of June 2024.
Adams has repeatedly called on the US federal government to provide multiple forms of support, including expedited work authorization for asylum seekers, a national decompression strategy, increased funding to manage the crisis, and meaningful immigration reform.
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