We the undersigned, petition in opposition to the two shelters that were hotels, which opened with little to no notification to the community. They are directly across the street from each other and close to PS 50, since April 2020, and a prominent residential community of Queens.

We petition to DHS, HRA and the Mayor’s office to close these shelters and return them to hotels. Or make these hotels into affordable housing for seniors.

As of a 2016 report from the Mayor’s office “Turning the Tide on Homelessness in New York City”, Queens 26 shelters and 40 hotels, Community district 12 has 13 hotels, half of all the shelters in Queens. This is unacceptable.

The two new shelters are:

Men’s Shelter Comfort Inn Suites

143-18 Liberty Avenue Woman’s Shelter

Jamaica, NY 11435 144-15 Liberty Avenue

Jamaica, NY 11435