Residents of the Upper West Side in Manhattan are expressing concerns over a newly opened homeless shelter for women, citing an increase in crime and safety issues in the area. The shelter, which is located near the Gertrude Ederle Playground, has been the subject of complaints from neighbors who claim to have witnessed loitering, public nudity, and drug use.
Community Response
A group of nearly 500 residents has formed to document and share their concerns about the shelter, with many calling for a more supportive and smaller-scale housing solution. “This should be supportive housing for people who are at a different stage in getting back on their feet,” said one resident. “We just want everyone to benefit from the services in these shelters, but we need a safer and more responsible approach.”
Project Renewal, the nonprofit organization behind the shelter, has stated that the facility provides behavioral health and medical services, case management, and other supports to its clients. However, residents remain skeptical, citing the need for a more tailored approach to addressing the complex needs of the shelter’s residents.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
