After the first announcement nearly three years ago, the Apollo Street shelter has finally opened in Greenpoint.
The City’s Department of Social Services and Department of Homeless Services will operate the shelter in partnership with the non-profit Breaking Ground, providing Safe Haven-style housing. As we previously reported, this shelter model consists of private, short-term accommodations designed to help those experiencing homelessness transition into having a place of their own.
“This new purpose built shelter for street homeless New Yorkers has robust onsite case management, housing, security, and healthcare services,” City Council Member Lincoln Restler said in a recent email newsletter to constituents, “Their model includes primary care and mental health services onsite 5 days per week.”
The shelter on 83 Apollo Street, dubbed The Continental, can accommodate 145 men and women, North Brooklyn News reports.
Some residents initially opposed the shelter, citing safety concerns and feeling that Greenpoint already had enough shelters. However, city data shows that lower-income, non-white neighborhoods disproportionately house more shelters than typically wealthy areas like Greenpoint. The Safe Haven-style accommodations also differ from the congregant-style shelters already present in the neighborhood, such as the assessment center on Clay Street. Breaking Ground operates another Safe Haven shelter in Williamsburg, which opened in 2022.
Shelter staff provided an overview of safety precautions during a community meeting in April. “Breaking Ground will have 50 staff members, all trained in de-escalation,” wrote North Brooklyn News. “Five to seven employees will be onsite, working around the clock to keep individuals in the shelter and the rest of the community safe. Security will monitor access points at all times, and shelter staff will search clients when they enter the building.”
Breaking Ground has also established a 24/7 number for any concerns: 718-724-7900
Hmm, something doesn’t make sense here – is this the same Lincoln Restler who is now fighting to get a nightclub shut down in the wealthiest section of Greenpoint? If memory serves me correct and it most certainly does, the community in this historically underserved, less affluent, and pollution-heavy area was vociferously opposed to the homeless shelter and NEVER relented their opposition as this article implies. It was the likes of Restler who allowed it to be built despite those protestations. So curious that he is now inspired to actually listen to the community asking for the night club to be relocated, I guess their wealth, influence, and proximity to his donor base has something to do with it!
This can’t be good in any way, shape or form, for this neighborhood. It’s disgusting how they have to a ruin a nice place
Seems like a step up from the current system of shelters. Hopefully this can help some people who are in need.
There are all sorts of shelters. There are some for the working class that can’t afford housing and have been displaced. These people are drug free and have low paying jobs and usually youngish single adults.Most likely they will be of this class.
residents were never informed of the plan for the shelter. Residents opposed and still oppose the shelter. Greenpoint has more than it’s fair share of shelters. we are all for housing but this shelter which brings street homeless people from all over the city to Greenpoint is unfair and creates a danger for Greenpoint. The Chair of the Community Board, Assemblymemeber Emily Gallagher, former Councilman Steve Levin and Councilman Lincoln Restler all went along with the Mayor to open this shelter here.
I’m not against shelters per se, but North Greenpoint certainly has its share of them, and most right around the block where I live. It’s only lately that I’ve noticed a lot more people from the shelters hanging out on Manhattan Ave (again, northern Greenpoint, first five-six blocks from Newtown canal), sleeping in doorways or alcoves, sitting on building landings (blocking entry for residents) or on the fencing surrounding the trees while drinking/smoking, selling stuff on folding tables on the sidewalk, empty liquor bottles on the sidewalk (esp in front of the liquor store on my block : / ), and there have been several incidents recently where someone goes ranting up and down the street out of control with no one around to encourage them down from whatever high they’re on, always after dark, this. This is all in addition to the nutcase who lives on my block of Manhattan Ave whose an ex felon and been in and out of Rikers on a constant basis (he’s the original ranter/groper/sexual harasser on the street, often shirtless and often in the wee hours, waking everyone up with shouts and screams). Not exaggerating, just observations from the field. Wasn’t like this even six months ago. Not sure what’s driving the new environment, but it’s not good. Greenpoint isn’t what people think it is – big diff b/w visiting the area, and actually living here. None of the community managers seem to be listening (talking about you Restler – and your claim of creating the “most” affordable housing, when all you’ve allowed to be created is little white boxes in high rises that go for $5200/month, all with this other stuff going on in the streets … is not quite accurate. Sarcasm fully intended.).