New Yorkers Displaced By Sandy Shuffled Between Shelters
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Many New Yorkers whose homes were damaged by Sandy are now forced to live in shelters, but various agencies are struggling to try to find them a permanent place to live. Bronx borough reporter Erin Clarke filed the following report. The stories are similar for many of people displaced by Sandy who are staying at a shelter on Powers Avenue in the Port Morris section of the Bronx.
"Our place was destroyed. We were in water for about 10 hours, about waist-deep," said Lester Porter, who previously lived in Far Rockaway, Queens.
After being shuffled from various places across the city, they thought the shelter on Powers Avenue would be their refuge for the next few months.
"They had us sign a booklet of paper work, intake, basically telling us that this is where we would be for three to six months," said Sharaea Frederick, who previously lived in Sheepshead Bay, Brooklyn.
But on Sunday, they were told they had to go.
"Yesterday they come in, short notice, and tell us we have to pack up," said Alexander Vargas, who previously lived in Bushwick, Brooklyn.
"Everybody last night took all of their stuff out in bags and everything. Five buses come, they take people to hotels," said Powers.
It did not last long. Many of those people ended up right back at the Powers Avenue shelter. When they arrived at the hotel, for one reason or another they were told they could not stay.
"They didn't provide people with pets with any location that we could go to," said Emelyn Matos, who previously lived in Red Hook, Brooklyn.
"They told me, 'We don't even have you on our list,' so then I was outside for an hour with two small children and nobody knew where to put us," said Frederick.
Many of these people did not have anywhere else to go. Even if they did, they were worried that their children will suffer from the constant shuffle.
"If you transfer your child to three different schools within one year, you will have an ACS [Administration for Children's Services] charge, so they're actually putting us in danger," said Matos.
Officials at the Department of Homeless Services admitted to what they called "logistical challenges" in finding long-term housing for these people, but said the issues have been resolved.
Displaced New Yorkers who are staying at the Powers Avenue shelter told NY1 they were told the same thing, and said they will believe it when they see it.