News/Commentary

NYC Mayor Eric Adams wants migrants to live in residents’ private homes, spare rooms

June 6, 2023 | | Print Article

New York City Mayor Eric Adams has a problem and that problem is migrants, lots of them. Far more than the sanctuary city that he presides over is capable of handling with more coming in on a daily basis and on Monday, he floated an innovative new idea that might not be as well-received as may believe.

With there being only so much hotel space available for the new arrivals and with it being extremely costly to put them up in such swanky accommodations, Hizzoner spoke at a City Hall news conference where he announced that local religious leaders had agreed to start assisting with the housing of migrants at fifty houses of worship beginning next month.

“As we continue to tackle this humanitarian crisis, I’m proud that through this new partnership with New York Disaster Interfaith Services, New York City’s faith community will be able to provide shelter to asylum seekers in need at houses of worship throughout the five boroughs,” he said.

But it was the mayor’s idea that private homes could also be used to deal with the overflow that is already generating controversy and making headlines as he suggested that landlords and homeowners could be financially compensated if they are able to find space for the poor and huddled masses that are pouring into the Big Apple.

“It is my vision to take the next step to this faith-based locales and then move to a private residence,” Adams said. “There are residents who are suffering right now because of economic challenges, they have spare rooms, they have locales.”

“If we can find a way to get over the 30-day rule and other rules that government has in… place, we can take that $4.2 billion – $4.3 maybe now -that we potentially have to spend and put it back in the pockets of every day New Yorkers, everyday houses of worship instead of putting it in the pockets of corporations and some of those corporations come from outside our city,” he added. “We should be recycling our own dollars,” he added.

Needless to say, Mayor Adams’ provocative idea drew a boisterous reaction from Twitter users.

According to the New York Post, “Adams didn’t offer up specifics on how the plan would work – including how much New Yorkers could potentially receive per night to cover the cost of hosting a migrant. A spokesperson also did not respond when asked if the mayor would take in migrants at his home in Brooklyn. He did say, however, that the city would pay places of worship a nightly rate of about $125 for each asylum seeker – which is cheaper than the $380 it costs to put up a migrant household – including a family with kids or just single adults – in one of its shelter hotels.”

Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE

Chris Donaldson
Latest posts by Chris Donaldson (see all)

Comment

We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.

Latest Articles