New York City Comptroller Brad Lander criticized Mayor Eric Adams’ administration’s caps on shelter stays for migrants as he called for their end. Lander argued that the policy was not designed to help families achieve stable housing and self-sufficiency but rather to quickly move them through the system without considering their long-term wellbeing. He claimed that the policy did not take into account the impact on children’s education or consider the path to stable housing, employment, and self-sufficiency for asylum-seeking families.
Lander made his comments outside the Roosevelt Hotel, where he slammed the limits for asylum-seeking families that had been put in place by the Adams administration earlier in the year. He cited the results of a five-month investigation conducted by his office, which highlighted the negative impacts of the policy on migrants exiting the city’s shelter system. Despite the administration’s claims that the 60-day limit was helping families secure proper housing, Lander argued that it was causing harm and hindering the migrants’ ability to achieve stability.
As of April 28, over 10,000 families, consisting of 19,497 adults and 18,149 children, had been given a 60-day notice due to the shelter stay caps. More than half of these families had left the city’s shelters, with the administration attributing their success to the policy driving them to find suitable housing. However, the comptroller’s investigation found flaws in the rollout of the policy, lack of information on exemptions, and inadequate intensive case management to support families transitioning out of shelters.
Despite a decrease in the number of new asylum seekers arriving in the city each week compared to last year, the total number of migrants in the city’s care has remained steady at around 65,000. Lander criticized the administration for poorly tracking outcomes and managing the shelter exit process, leading to negative consequences for families. He called for an end to the limits and proposed more comprehensive case management, education for asylum seekers, and tracking the effectiveness of obtaining permanent and work authorizations for migrants.
In conclusion, Lander emphasized the need for a more compassionate and effective approach to supporting asylum-seeking families in New York City. He urged the administration to end the shelter stay caps, improve case management, and provide resources for migrants to achieve stability and self-sufficiency. The comptroller’s investigation highlighted management flaws in the administration’s policies and practices, emphasizing the importance of tracking outcomes to ensure the well-being of migrants in the city’s care. Lander’s recommendations aim to address these issues and improve the city’s support system for asylum seekers.