Dear John,

New York City has notified 2,700 immigrant families they’ll either have to reapply for shelter or find alternative housing within 60 days, just before the holiday season begins in the cold of winter.  These families are preparing to move with great uncertainty as to where they will go next and how to manage the fallout on their school-age children. 

This news makes today’s 44th anniversary of NYC’s right-to-shelter policy—a policy that has kept a roof over the heads of homeless men, women, children, and families in our city—especially bittersweet.

New York’s right to shelter policy was specifically designed as a humanitarian response to a homeless crisis in New York that left people cold and vulnerable on our streets. The Adams Administration’s continued attacks on our right to shelter protections mean more families in need will find themselves in similar positions, during the cold winter months.

Helping vulnerable New Yorkers for over four decades, the right to shelter policy emerged from the 1979 court case Callahan v. Carey. 

Robert Callahan was a homeless man sleeping in the streets of the Lower East Side. Robert Hayes, a young 26 year old lawyer, agreed to represent him along with all other homeless men in New York City.

On December 5th 1979, the NY State Supreme Court ordered the City and State to provide shelter for homeless men in a landmark decision. After nearly two years of negotiations, in 1981, a consent decree was finalized, stating New York City would provide shelter and board to all homeless men.

Further legal victories evolved the right to shelter policy to ensure temporary shelter for all homeless New Yorkers—including women and children. Today, this policy has ensured our newest arrivals have a bed to sleep in while they look for work and await legalization. As our city enters the winter months, it is crucial this policy stays in place to keep all New York families safe and secure and off the streets.

As New York City continues to experience an affordability crisis, Mayor Adams and the City are cruel to challenge the policy that has been a lifeline for all New Yorkers.

The time for action is now!

Murad Awawdeh
Executive Director