Proposed Homeless Shelter Meeting: 9/27/10

Last month I received a letter from a resident concerned about a proposed men’s homeless shelter planned for Greenpoint. I received an enormous amount of emails and quite a few comments. Here is an excerpt of just one of the letters I received from a local business owner:

Hello,


I’m a business owner in Greenpoint. I own a hair salon on Manhattan Ave and Green St. It has come to my attention and I would like to share this with you. Maybe you already know. At the address 400 Mcguiness Blvd. will be a 200 bed homeless facility. As someone who has had my business here for 17 years. I’ve seen what housing people on this level does to the neighborhood with the famous Greenpoint Hotel housing drug addicts and criminals. Many of these people are sex offenders. I would like you to share with all the Greenpointers a meeting on Sep. 27 at 6:00 to discuss this.


Thank You,
Tonia

I think a lot of people are naïve in thinking that a homeless shelter brought to this neighborhood isn’t going to cause problems in the community. Why is the loyalty to these people instead of the local businesses and families? The residents near the Brownsville womens shelter talk about prostitution and the cops always being there. So we think that 200 men will be better? Why can’t we have low income housing instead? Low income housing would help people right here, already in Greenpoint and areas of North Brooklyn. Families who need housing in a safe neighborhood and can become part of the community.

Either way, whatever side your on, let your voice and concerns be heard. The 9/15 community meeting has been rescheduled for Monday September 27th.

6:00PM – Monday September 27th 2010
The Public Safety Committee and the Human Services Committee will hold a joint meeting at the Polish National Home, 261 Driggs Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11222 (between Eckford Street and Leonard Street)

AGENDA:

( 1.) Presentation – Discussion on Department of Homeless Services policies and the open RFP process – by Alex T. Zablocki, Director of Community Relations NYC Department of Homeless Services 33 Beaver St • 17th Floor • New York, NY 10004 Tel. 212-487-2151;

( 2. ) Also invited, HELP USA, Mr. Laurence S. Belinsky, President and CEO, Tel. (212) 400-7070, for an update regarding their plans for 400 McGuinness Blvd.