The city of New York is implementing new guidelines for migrants staying in city shelters beyond their allotted time. Migrants will now need to provide “extenuating circumstances” to explain why they need to stay for another 30 days. Mayor Eric Adams’ Chief of Staff, Camille Joseph Varlack, believes these changes will help migrants progress in their journeys, reduce strain on the shelter system, and assist in providing essential services to New Yorkers. The administration hopes that these new powers will motivate migrants to move on from the shelter system, as it was never intended to be a permanent landing place.
This initiative is part of a settlement in March after a legal battle over the “right to shelter” mandate, which requires the city to provide beds to anyone who wants one. While the city is still responsible for providing shelter to asylum seekers as they arrive, officials now have the ability to review applications for extended stays on a case-by-case basis. Single migrants are allowed 30 days in shelters, while younger adult migrants, between 18 and 23, will have 60 days. Those who reapply for shelter after their stay limit has expired must prove specific circumstances, such as plans to relocate or undergoing medical procedures.
The Adams administration views the stay limits as a crucial tool in alleviating strain on the shelter system and budget. These limits were effective in helping nearly half of migrant families move out of the shelter system in March. Since the beginning of the crisis, nearly 200,000 asylum seekers have passed through New York City, with over 65,000 still in emergency shelters. While the city remains committed to providing shelter to asylum seekers, the new guidelines aim to ensure that resources are prioritized for vulnerable families with children and new arrivals, rather than those who are able to move on from the system.
Officials believe that the new guidelines will encourage migrants to progress in their journeys and seek more permanent housing solutions. By requiring migrants to show valid reasons for extended stays in shelters, the city hopes to decrease congestion in the shelter system and continue providing essential services to those in need. The administration hopes that these changes will effectively balance the city’s responsibility to provide shelter with the need to prioritize resources for the most vulnerable populations.
The decision to implement stricter guidelines for migrants staying in city shelters comes following a settlement in March, which granted the city emergency exemption from the “right to shelter” mandate. While the city must still provide shelter to asylum seekers, officials now have the authority to review applications for extended stays on a case-by-case basis. The goal is to ensure that resources are used efficiently and effectively to support those most in need. The new rules apply specific time limits for different groups of migrants and require them to prove their eligibility for extended stays, such as plans to relocate or medical reasons.
