State Senators Jeff Klein and George Latimer, Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz, Council Members Andrew Cohen and Andy King, Community Board 12 Chair Father Richard Gorman and representatives of Congressman Eliot Engel and State Senator Ruth Hassel-Thompson were joined by community leaders at the Project Renewal Shelter in Wakefield to demand that the homeless shelter be closed following the fatal shooting of its director, Ana Charle, by an ex-tenant on Monday evening.
Security has been a long standing issue at the Project Renewal Shelter, with 175 calls to 911 from January 2015 to approximately the end of March 2015. Last year’s numbers are even more alarming, with 675 calls to 911 between January 2014 and November 2014. Local elected officials had repeatedly met with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) requesting additional security be added to the site, in light of the high number of emergency calls being made from inside the facility.
Approximately 60% of the tenants living in the Project Renewal Shelter are formerly incarcerated felons, with arrest records that include felonies, murder, rape, and criminal possession of a weapon. In addition, many have serious substance abuse issues. As of December 2014, there were approximately 40 registered sex offenders living in the Shelter.
The City has made Wakefield a neighborhood for cluster sites and homeless shelters, with three DHS facilities located within blocks of each other:
• Temporary housing facility for homeless families on E. 233rd Street and White Plains Road
• Project Renewal Shelter, a 108-bed shelter for single-men, 18 years and older, on 4380 Bronx Boulevard.
• The Sgt. Joseph E. Muller Army Reserve Center, a vacant military post on Nereid Ave., is slated to become a 200-bed men's shelter operated by The Doe Fund
There is also a 61-unit Praxis Housing facility for formerly homeless couples without children, as well as single men and women, located on 4339 White Plains Road. 100% of Praxis residents are homeless individuals living with HIV/AIDS, 25% have criminal histories, 75-80% have drug or alcohol problems, and 75-80% have indications or documented histories of mental health issues.
Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz who ran the press conference said , “The tragic shooting that occurred near the Project Renewal Homeless Shelter on Monday highlights the major security concerns that we have repeatedly warned the Department of Homeless Services about. This shelter came into Wakefield with no input from the community and over the objections of its residents. The DHS pulled a classic bait and switch by placing at least 40 convicted sex offenders in the shelter without notifying the community. To add insult to injury, the City intends to open up another large shelter, the Muller Center, just a block away. This oversaturation of homeless men in one neighborhood is reckless and irresponsible. I call for the closing of the Project Renewal Shelter and a moratorium on any further steps to turn the Muller Center into a homeless shelter. Our community stands united on this crucial issue.”
“The horrific death of Ana Charle is tragically, the latest in a string of heinous threats, serious safety concerns and recurring criminal acts stemming from the Project Renewal Shelter on Bronx Boulevard. This neighborhood is completely inundated and oversaturated with homeless shelters and it’s clear from these latest events that something must be done. That’s why I sponsor legislation in the Senate that would prevent this type of aggressive, concentrated placement of shelters and establish a stronger community review process moving forward. I stand with my colleagues Councilman Cohen, Councilman King, and Assemblyman Dinowitz to call on this shelter to close immediately. The Bronx should not have to bear the brunt of the city’s entire homeless population,” said Senator Jeff Klein.
“This tragedy highlights the neighbor’s greatest fear. If these shelters cannot make a safe environment for their own staff, than how can we be sure the communities here in the Bronx and in Yonkers will have safe environments as well? Further construction at the Mueller Center should be stopped immediately in the interest of public safety,” said Senator George Latimer.
“Project Renewal deals with an incredibly tough population with serious mental health issues, the formerly incarcerated, as well as registered sex offenders. This work cannot be done without adequate resources. I personally met with Commissioner Taylor on February 2nd to ask for more security for this facility. It was not until the intervention of the Mayor’s office yesterday that security resources and protocols were implemented. I am thankful to the Mayor’s office for responding, but as of this moment I am not convinced that this facility can be run safely,” said Council Member Andrew Cohen.
“I first wish to express my condolences and prayers to the family and friends of Ms. Ana Charle. I am truly sorry for your loss,” said Council Member Andy King. “United, as a community, we are horrified. It’s one thing to create a safe haven for those who are truly in need of housing and it’s another to create community aggravation. Since I came to office, constituents have approached me on the street and at events — troubled about the Project Renewal residents who have approach them on the street begging for money or other reasons. We had asked DHS and Project Renewal to work with the community. Over the past year, we've expressed our concerns and requested more staffing and security to make this a safer facility. Our requests have been ignored! Now, the tragic shooting death of this shelter’s director has prompted our urgent call to close this shelter. “
“Let’s be clear about who and what the problem is in this instance. The problem is the New York City Department of Homeless Services and this incredibly incompetent and disingenuous manner in which it operates. The agency has yet to honor its commitment to ne forthright and transparent with local neighborhoods in assisting the homeless and to dialogue with us in addressing this urgent need. If perhaps the Department had worked with us rather than against us and behind our backs, the tragedy that causes us to gather this afternoon may well have been avoided. May the soul of Ana Charle rest in peace and may her loved ones be comforted by the Grace of God’s Consolation,” said Father Richard Gorman, Chairman, Bronx Community Board 12.
I asked now many resident were from the neighborhood, and the borough of the Bronx were residents of the shelter, and I was told no one from the neighborhood, and only a few from the entire Bronx.
After the elected officials who had to hold their press conference in the street finished, a press conference was held by the organization Homeless Services United of about 100 people on the sidewalk in front of the homeless shelter. I asked how many of these people were from the neighborhood (which is a neighborhood of color, and you will see in the photo only a few people of color), let alone from the Bronx. A black woman came forth from a back row, and a black man at one end raised his hand. Homeless Services United is based on the 6th floor of 440 West 33rd Street.
Finally, I went to many of the local businesses nearby to ask if there were any problems with any of the people from the shelter, and was told by all that yes there are. Either loitering, begging, harassing customers or employees only to name a few of the complaints by the merchants near the shelter.
Left - Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz introduced the speakers.
Right - As you can see the press conference by the elected officials had to be held in the street, because about 100 people connected to the organization Homeless Services United were on the sidewalk in front of the homeless shelter.
Left - Community Board 12 Chair Father Richard Gorman says a few words at the beginning of the press conference in the memory of Ana Charle, before he blasted the Department of Homeless Services, calling it the Department of Warehouse Services. Father Gorman had just checked himself out of the hospital to be here.
Right - State Senator Jeff Klein tells that he has sponsored legislation in the State Senate that would prevent this type of aggressive, concentrated placement of shelters and establish a stronger community review process moving forward.
Left - Westchester State Senator George Latimer says that Yonkers stands with the Bronx in this matter with the Yonkers City line only a stones throw away.
Right - Councilman Andrew Cohen mentions that with his and Councilman King's intervention DHS security personal have finally been deployed to this shelter.
Left - Councilman Andy King walks slowly to the podium as he is introduced. Councilman King is now calling for this shelter to close due to the tragic shooting of the shelters director after requests by the community and elected officials were ignored about the safety in the shelter.
Right - Two DHS security guards stand outside the shelter between the elected officials press conference, and the 100 or so supporters of the shelter from Homeless Services United.
A statement is read from the Board of Directors of Homeless Services United which read -
To Concerned New Yorkers:
Our Community of Homeless Services United has experienced an unspeakable loss with the violent death of Ana Charle. We grieve for her children, her family, her colleagues at Project Renewal and the men at this shelter whom she served so well. We are united in our grief.
This is a day to support, console and be in solidarity with those who have been directly affected by this tragedy.
This is not a day for politics; it is a day to give thanks for the life of Ana Charle and for the thousands of New Yorkers who work tirelessly every day in their commitment to end homelessness.
We pledge ourselves to find new ways to effectively help the most troubled New Yorkers so that Ana's death will not be in vain.
The Board of Directors
Homeless Services United
Christy Parque, Executive Director
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Editor's Note:
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