New York City is closing a large shelter for migrants in Brooklyn as the number of new arrivals continues to decline. The Hall Street shelter, which has 3,500 beds and is located in the Clinton Hill neighborhood, will be shut down by June. This is part of the city’s plan to close 10 shelters in total, with three more set to close soon. The decision comes after a steady decrease in the number of migrants staying in city shelters, a trend that has lasted for 27 weeks.
This drop in the migrant population is due to stricter border policies introduced by President Biden in the spring and new rules by Mayor Eric Adams. These rules limit how long migrants can stay in shelters—30 days for most and 60 days for others.
Mayor Adams said the closures show that his administration has effectively managed the situation, helping over 200,000 migrants since April 2022. He stated that the city is working to help migrants become self-sufficient while also saving taxpayer money.
Along with the Hall Street shelter, other shelters in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens will also close. Some of these include a Holiday Inn Express in Brooklyn and the Watson Hotel in Manhattan. In total, the closures will reduce the city’s migrant shelter capacity by 10,000 beds.
This move follows earlier plans to shut down 25 other shelter sites, including large tent shelters on Randall’s Island and at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn. However, the city will also open a new smaller shelter in the Bronx. The 2,200-bed facility will be used for single adult male migrants who are currently staying on Randall’s Island.
City Council Member Crystal Hudson, whose district includes the Hall Street shelter, expressed support for the closure. She welcomed the plan to end what she described as an “unequal shelter system” for migrants and appreciated the city’s efforts to move residents to new locations responsibly. Hudson said she was pleased to see the Hall Street shelter being shut down.
