A former gym in Astoria is the latest site the city is using to house migrants as it struggles to find more long-term solutions. 

The building is currently being used as a shelter to house as many as 250 single migrant men. 

What You Need To Know

  • The building is currently being used as a shelter to house as many as 250 single migrant men

  • The shelter, that’s been up-and-running for about one month, has caused a division among nearby residents

  • Some parents at Our World Charter School are frustrated with the city saying they were not properly informed about the new shelter

Luiber Elias, a migrant from Venezuela, has lived at the facility for one month. 

He migrated with his family to the United States, but they live separately. 

"Right now, I'm by myself because we haven't found a family shelter so that we can be all together, but so far everything is getting better,” Elias said.

The shelter, which has been up-and-running for about one month, has caused a division among nearby residents. Some parents at Our World Charter School are frustrated with the city saying they were not properly informed about the new shelter, which sits catty-corner to the school. 

“Now that I’m hearing that it’s men, more than it’s men and women, it gets me a little concerned,” said Philippe Jean-Jacques, a grandfather of a student at the school. 

"Obviously we're not thrilled about it. The school is right here,” said Arya Foster, a parent of a student at the school.  “Our kids are right here. It's just a bunch of men with no background checks on them so that's really the biggest thing. We have girls here. Safety is the biggest concern.” 

But Heather Page, who is the principal at Baccalaureate School of Public Education, a block away from the temporary shelter, said she doesn’t see a problem. So far, neither have the parents of her students. 

“I think these people need to be welcomed into our community and provided with resources and to be able to access what we have here in this country,” Page said. 

As Elias starts his day, he leaves with the breakfast the shelter has provided, and said he’s thankful for the support he’s been given as he and his family work to reunite. 

“I haven’t found someone mean to us since I’ve been to this country. It’s not the most comfortable place, but personally I’m very grateful because it’s better to have a better place to sleep and have food than to sleep on the street,” Elias said. 

Gov. Kathy Hochul said the state is looking at other potential emergency housing options including SUNY campuses, former psychiatric centers and a hangar at John F Kennedy Airport.