Chicago December 11, 2024
Activists and local officials gathered outside New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office in Albany on Monday to protest the closure of two hotels that are currently housing hundreds of migrants. The protestors are calling for the Governor to step in and stop the evictions of the migrants, urging for more state funding to help shelter them.
In New York City, there is a “right to shelter” law, which means the city must provide housing for anyone who needs it and has no other options. The situation has become challenging, with the city already housing 58,000 migrants and spending large amounts of money to do so.
According to a report, New York City is projected to spend nearly $1 billion over the next two years on hotel contracts for migrant housing. The city’s total expenses related to the migrant crisis could reach more than $12 billion by 2025.
Recently, two hotels in Manhattan and Queens have closed their doors as shelters, and other shelters across New York’s counties are also expected to close soon. This has raised concerns among locals and lawmakers about how to manage the growing number of migrants.
A recent Siena poll shows that most New York voters (54%) support efforts to deport illegal immigrants, while 35% oppose it. Despite this, the state has set aside $4.3 billion in its budget to provide essential services like food, housing, clothing, and phones for migrants.
