Men begin moving into new migrant shelter in Mott Haven
The new center has been a center of controversy in recent months and caused outrage from some local lawmakers and residents.
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Men began the move Sunday night into a new migrant shelter in Mott Haven.
The shelter on the corner of East 141st Street and Bruckner Boulevard has the capacity to house 2,200 people.
A News 12 crew observed several men with rolling suitcases and duffle bags.
“[On Saturday] I came here,” said Hamidou Balde, who had his new shelter identification and lanyard around his neck.
The 35-year-old said he had been staying at other city shelters since he arrived in the United States from Africa in 2023.
“I look for work,” said Balde, who told News 12 he had proper documents but is currently unemployed. “I [don’t] have work.”
While window shades were drawn on the upper floors, part of the first floor appeared to still be under renovation.
Another part of the first floor, where the men were entering Sunday, holds a security checkpoint and metal detectors.
The new center has been a center of controversy in recent months and caused outrage from some local lawmakers and residents.
“It’s not that I don’t want anybody to have somewhere to live,” said Sonia Taylor, of Mott Haven. “It’s the location where you’re putting them.”
The movement of men into the shelter comes after Mayor Edic Adams’ office announced a total of 46 migrant shelters will be closed by June.
“It’s the Bronx, it’s over here now,” Taylor said. “You just changed the location. It seems like everything that you’re closing down, that you don’t think should be somewhere, you’re putting it here. It’s not fair really.”
News 12 reached out to Adams’ office and Bronx Borough President Vanessa Gibson’s office about the opening of the shelter but had not responded as of Sunday night.
