Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, whose district includes the Project Renewal Shelter in Wakefield, issued the following statement:
“Yesterday, Coalition for The Homeless President Mary Brosnahan issued a statement critical of the elected officials’ calls to close down Project Renewal Shelter on Bronx Boulevard following the heinous murder of Ana Charle. While I know Ms. Brosnahan is a tireless advocate for the homeless, her apparent lack of concern about the impact that the Project Renewal Men’s Homeless Shelter has on the surrounding neighborhood is disappointing. This particular shelter has generated approximately one thousand 911 calls since it opened last year, stretching the resources of the 47th Precinct. Placing such a large number of men who were previously incarcerated for violent felonies, including sex offenses, all in one shelter without proper security and without informing the community is, quite simply, terrible public policy.
“I am very concerned about rising rates of homelessness in New York City and believe we must do everything we can to address this crisis. This year we in the Assembly helped secure nearly $440 million dollars for homelessness prevention services in the state budget. These funds, to be distributed over the next four years, will help keep working families in their homes, provide much-needed support for victims of domestic violence, and go towards improving the city’s shelters and transitional housing programs.
“While Ms. Brosnahan’s job is to speak out for the homeless, mine is to stand up for my constituents, who are adversely impacted by poor policy decisions by the Department of Homeless Services. I am supportive of efforts to end homelessness in New York City, but these efforts cannot come at the expense of the well-being and safety of residents in our communities. I urge her to contribute to a real solution to the problems caused by this shelter.”
