In a groundbreaking move on Monday, Mayor Eric Adams of New York City unveiled an extraordinary proposal to tackle the city’s refugee crisis by engaging private homeowners and landlords.
This visionary initiative was introduced by the Democratic City Council Member, Eric Adams, during the grand launch of a trailblazing faith-based shelter program for migrants in the heart of New York City. The program, set to revolutionize the city’s approach, aims to secure nearly a thousand single adult foreign nationals who have recently sought refuge in the city by partnering with up to fifty places of worship or faith-based venues.
Addressing a captivated audience at a press conference, Adams expressed, “It is my fervent vision to progress from these faith-based sanctuaries and ultimately venture into private residences.” He emphasized that fellow residents, grappling with economic challenges, could extend their support by opening up their “spare rooms” to these migrants.
With unwavering determination, Adams promised to navigate through any existing ordinances that deem it unlawful to provide shelter to homeless individuals in residential areas, assuring citizens that the city authorities would find a way.
Under this ingenious plan, New York City will allocate $85 per night to cover the lodging expenses of each foreign national, excluding additional charges for amenities such as laundry and security. An estimate from an Adams representative pegs the total cost per migrant at approximately $125 per night.
Startling statistics revealed that over 60% of the 72,000 migrants who arrived in the metropolitan region since April have been accommodated in 160 emergency shelters and motels, funded by taxpayers, as reported by the New York Post.
As per Adams’ projections, the expenses incurred by New York City for the migrant crisis are anticipated to surpass $4.3 billion by the conclusion of the current fiscal year in June 2024, in addition to the staggering $1.2 billion already expended this fiscal year. Local estimates indicate that each migrant spends nearly $380 daily on housing and other essential services.
Adams, alongside other administrators of the program, ardently believes that utilizing places of worship will prove “significantly more cost-effective” than the prevailing approach, particularly in light of the projected increase in costs over the upcoming year.
“The anticipated $4.2 billion — or now $4.3 billion — that we expect to spend can be redirected into the hands of ordinary places of worship rather than enriching corporations,” the author notes passionately.
Continuing his impassioned plea, he states, “We must recycle our own financial resources. We need to transform this catastrophe into an opportunity. However, let us be unequivocal: the current cash flow cannot sustain this burden.”
Adams revealed that he has persistently urged the New York State Legislature to bring approximately 50,000 illegal basement apartments up to code, a monumental task estimated to cost the city around $14 billion, as reported by the New York Post.
The mayor expounded on the cost-effectiveness of visiting individual homes to provide assistance, comparing it to the exorbitant expenses associated with accommodating a large number of people in a single facility or emergency hotels.
Additionally, Adams demanded decisive action from the federal government, calling for expedited work permit processing for migrants, the formulation of a comprehensive national decompression plan, increased resource allocation to tackle the situation, and comprehensive immigration reform.
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