A hotel in Williamsburg, New York City, has been converted into emergency housing for migrants. The Mayor Eric Adams’ administration awarded a $12.3 million contract to St. P.A.U.L’s Inc. to manage the facility at Hotel Le Jolie, which has been operating as a shelter for migrant families for several months. The Department of Homeless Services issued the contract to the Brooklyn-based organization to run the shelter, which has been using temporary staff up until this point. The not-for-profit group is expected to provide better services for migrant families staying at the facility.
Due to the overwhelming influx of migrants, the city has had to get creative in finding housing solutions. Hotel Le Jolie is one of over 100 hotels that have converted into emergency shelters for migrants who have flooded the city from the southern border. The government is footing the bill for the rooms at these emergency shelters, which includes the 55-room boutique accommodations at Hotel Le Jolie. The Adams administration has also signed a $76.69 million contract with the Hotel Association of New York City to provide temporary shelter to migrant families for up to 28 days under a vouchering program at 15 hotels in Brooklyn, Queens, and The Bronx.
The Mayor Adams administration has made efforts to curb the increasing costs associated with providing shelter for migrants by setting limits on the length of stay for individuals and families. With nearly 200,000 migrants having arrived in New York City since spring 2022, the city’s shelter population has been overwhelmed, leading to the use of hotels and the setup of massive tent cities in various locations. Despite the significant financial burden, the city has committed to providing shelter to migrant households at an average cost of $387 per day, with projections indicating that the costs could reach $10 billion through the next fiscal year.
In order to cope with the escalating migrant crisis, the city has relied on emergency measures such as converting hotels into shelters and setting up tent cities to accommodate the influx of migrants. The shelter system has been stretched to its limits, prompting the Department of Homeless Services to utilize creative solutions such as converting tourist accommodations like Hotel Le Jolie into emergency housing for migrant families. While the federal government has provided limited financial support, the city of New York is bearing the majority of the costs associated with providing shelter to migrants, with recent data from City Hall showing the significant financial impact of the crisis on the city’s budget.
