Ends support for migrants in New York: Hotel Roosevelt shuts down operations today.
Be ready for some big changes, folks! The humanitarian aid station perched at the iconic Hotel Roosevelt in the Big Apple is set to pull the shutters down on June 24. This closure decision, initially announced by Mayor Eric Adams way back in February, comes after a noticeable drop in immigrant assistance demands.
Bye-Bye, Roosevelt!
The premier shelter, which has catered to over 173,000 immigrants, housed a staggering three-quarters of the 232,000 who stepped foot in New York City from the early spring of 2022. So, long story short, this storied hotel ran our city's immigration assistance program like a well-oiled machine!
This four-star hotel had been a temporary haven, providing essential services like legal aid, healthcare, psychological help, and reconnection facilities. Families with kiddos in tow were not forgotten either, with heaps of diapers handed out weekly and other essential items offered.
"From here, we doled out over a million diapers and plenty more goodies for the families who desperately needed them," gushed Manuel Castro, the brain behind the NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA).
When One Door Closes...
The closure of the Roosevelt Hotel aid station doesn't just mean that sweet free stuff is going out the window; it also marks the final farewell for 53 other emergency centers that are getting shuttered this month.
How's This Affecting New York's Immigrant Community?
Honestly, it's leaving some folks in a bit of a pickle. With 170 assistance centers to start with and ten more on the chopping block, the remaining assistants are swamped. Castro warned, "There are still more than 30,000 people living in our shelters, hundreds of people have vacated over the past weeks, and thousands left over the past year."
Some immigrants, like migrant Jesus Garcia, are straight-up panicking. With the Roosevelt Hotel closing its doors, he asks, "Now where can I find support like the diapers they used to provide for my baby, or formula for the little ones?"
No worries, folks! If you find yourself in a pinch, just smoke on over to the official NYC Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs website. There, you'll find addresses of shelters for newly-arrived individuals and families, as well as locations offering food assistance and services catering specifically to littlies.
Besides, the Roosevelt Hotel's hefty closure is just the beginning. Stay tuned for Migration in the U.S. updates as we wade through these currents together! 🚀🚀🚀
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[Enrichment Data]:
- The Roosevelt Hotel, serving as a key shelter, helped almost 173,000 asylum seekers and immigrant families initially.
- With 12 other shelters closing alongside it in June 2025, over 35,000 families with children currently living in NYC shelters will be affected.
- Many of these immigrant families face significant challenges, such as limited job opportunities and childcare issues.
- Social workers have allegedly failed to inform shelter residents about relocation plans effectively.
- The lack of robust replacement plans for the Roosevelt Hotel residents is causing widespread uncertainty and anxiety.
- The disruption of the Roosevelt Hotel's intake and service point may complicate the processing of immigrant claims and access to aid.
- The prohibitive cost of housing in New York City is a concern for migrant families without legal work authorization.
- Without formal legal status and proper support systems, many immigrant families may struggle to find stable housing or employment after leaving shelters.
- The closure of the Roosevelt Hotel aid center and the simultaneous shutdown of 53 other emergency centers will undoubtedly leave a gap in the provision of essential services for New York's immigrant community, including legal aid, healthcare, psychological help, and reconnection facilities.
- The impending shutdown of such vital aid centers has sparked anxiety and uncertainty within the immigrant community, as many families worry about finding support for their basic needs, such as diapers, formula, and other essential items, in the absence of the services provided by the Roosevelt Hotel.
