New York City Health + Hospitals has approved a 99-year sublease for the Just Home project that will provide supportive housing for formerly incarcerated people with complex medical needs.

Some of those supportive housing units would also be reserved for affordable housing.

NYC Health + Hospitals says the goal of the project is to provide housing to people who would otherwise be homeless – but some elected officials disagree with the decision.

“They are not listening to the community, they are not listening to the residents around the location,” said Councilmember Kristy Marmorato. “There has never been a conversation to redirect the project… nobody reached out to me, nobody gave me feedback.”

The project has been met with backlash from members of the community, including multiple rallies and a pushback at a proposal meeting in December. At that meeting, residents say the addition of the supportive housing would lead to an increase in crime in their area.

News 12 received the following statement from the NYC Health + Hospitals team:

“We can all agree that the overall goal of Just Home is positive, and that we all must do more to find permanent housing solutions for formally incarcerated New Yorkers, particularly those who would otherwise be unhoused because their medical conditions make living in shelters impossible. We remain committed to continuing these conversations.”

The project will now be voted on in the City Council. If approved, the Just Home project would be ready to receive tenants by 2026.