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Protest over moving homeless New Yorkers
Advocates say homeless New Yorkers are being put at risk by the Mayor's decision to relocate them to shelters.
NEW YORK - A coalition of homeless New Yorkers and advocates marched through Manhattan to Gracie Mansion Saturday to protest the city's transferring homeless people from hotels and other temporary shelters to congregate shelters.
Over the past few weeks, buses have been parked outside places like the Lucerne Hotel. They were for the homeless who had been taking refuge there during the pandemic.
The city is planning to phase out the temporary hotel program, but community activists say it's happening too soon.
"It's unhealthy during COVID with the Delta variant," said Shams Dabaron, a community activist. "We want him to institute humane policies that protect citizens, all New Yorkers."
RELATED: Protesters march on Gracie Mansion over plan to move homeless out of NYC hotels
The city's relocation plan was halted Friday when the Legal Aid Society challenged it in federal court.
Homeless outreach advocates accuse city hall of endangering people with special needs and health problems.
Mayor Bill de Blasio's office declined to comment to FOX 5 NY on the issue.
So far, residents from roughly ⅓ of the city's emergency hotel shelters have been moved back into the traditional shelter system. The Department of Homeless Services plans to suspend any additional moves through at least early next week.
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