| Many neighbors have asked where things stand with the shelter and our court case. |
| We lost our case in the lower court. The judge sided with the City despite the serious issues documented in the Fair Share process, the environmental review, the concentration of shelters in our neighborhood, and the lack of transparency surrounding the City’s decision. |
| We knew this would be a difficult case. Courts give City agencies broad discretion in facility siting, and Fair Share does not dictate a particular outcome. This makes these decisions difficult for communities to challenge in court. |
| We appealed immediately. The shelter is now operational, and the appeal will take time. We recognize that courts are reluctant to disrupt an operating City facility. Still, we will pursue the appeal because fundamental questions about the City’s process remain unresolved. |
| The legal process has already shown why this matters. Critical information was not shared with the community or our elected representatives when it should have been. Decisions with lasting consequences for our neighborhood were made with little public transparency. Whatever the final outcome, the City and the DSS must be held accountable for how this process was conducted. |
| Meanwhile, on the ground, neighbors have observed concerning behavior since September involving shelter employees at 225 25th Street, including marijuana use outside the facility during work shifts and littering on surrounding blocks. On Friday, GWHA reported these concerns to the Council Member’s office and copied DSS, the Mayor’s Office, and HELP USA management. |
| This raises a basic question. Are HELP USA and other shelter operators in our neighborhood providing the level of care and professional management that shelter residents and neighbors deserve? People who depend on these facilities deserve responsible staff, a safe environment, and proper care. |
| We encourage neighbors to document problems with photos or video and report them immediately. Report trash, excessive noise, public drinking, and other quality-of-life concerns through 311 and, when appropriate, to the local 72nd NYPD precinct at (718) 965-6311. Call 911 for emergencies. Please also share your reports with GWHA so we can track recurring problems and raise them with City agencies and elected officials. |
| We also encourage neighbors to get involved directly. The 72nd Precinct Community Council will meet Tuesday, October 13, from 7 to 8 p.m. at Holy Name of Jesus Church, 245 Prospect Park West in Windsor Terrace. Residents can speak directly with precinct leadership, Community Affairs officers, and Quality of Life officers about neighborhood concerns. |
| Thank you for staying involved and supporting our community. |
| GWHA |