Community

Debate over an East Village homeless shelter

By Jaeda-Li Blair

Some neighbors of Project Renewal Shelter for homeless people argue that having it on East Third Street has disrupted their community and are actively pushing for its removal, while others see it as an essential resource.

The shelter is intended to provide temporary housing and support services for the citizens in need, including case management, health care referrals and assistance with finding permanent housing. 

“Residents should have some space in their hearts for these people …  Just see them for who they are and don’t criminalize them.” said Angela Bard, who lives five blocks from the shelter. Bard believes deeper understanding could ease tensions between the neighborhood and those experiencing homelessness. 

Zuri Krisbeth, another nearby resident, said the city’s rapid increase in homelessness makes shelters more necessary than ever. “Look at the homelessness problem in the city – we need it more than ever now. They’re trying to provide housing. I don’t understand what the issue is.”

City officials have said shelters are critical to addressing New York City’s homeless crisis and reducing the number of people sleeping on the streets or in subway stations. 

The East Village was selected as part of the city’s effort to expand shelter capacity. 

Members of the Village Organization for the Integrity of Community, or VOICE, say their opposition is not to the homeless people, but to the city’s decision to locate the shelter in the East Village.

“The concentration of troubled populations, whether it be Rikers or the Bowery, is a prescription for disaster and poor outcomes for the very people being served,” said John Ruha, a local cafe owner and VOICE member.

VOICE challenged the city’s decision to move forward with the Project Renewal Shelter, suing in April 2026 but losing their legal challenge in June 2026. VOICE members argued that government officials failed to sufficiently consider the shelter’s future impact on the neighborhood. 

While VOICE says it supports services for New York citizens experiencing homelessness, members said assistance programs should be distributed more evenly throughout the city. 

More than 350,000 New Yorkers experience homelessness every year, according to the Coalition for the Homeless.

Locals supporting the shelter, nonetheless, contend that homelessness in New York City, especially the Lower East Side is at its all time peak, and this crisis requires more facilities, not fewer.