NY1 got an inside look at one of the city's new homeless shelters on Tuesday, as community members in another area filed a petition to block the opening of a shelter in their neighborhood. NY1's Courtney Gross filed the following report.
NY1 followed the city's first lady, the city's homeless commissioner and the local councilman in a tour of one of the city's newest homeless shelters, the first one to open of the 90 the mayor has promised. It is exclusively for LGBT young adults.
"I was actually the first person that was on the list. I was the first person that got here when it first opened up," said Tarrik Adams, who lives in the LGBT shelter.
Adams is 23. He tells us this is the seventh shelter he has been in.
"The other shelters I've been in is totally crazy, especially for the LGBT," he said. "I almost got stabbed. I almost got raped. This is a big, big change for the LGBT community."
It's an endorsement for a homeless shelter heard from both residents there and local officials.
"We run six other shelters. It's a different sense here," said the president of the shelter operator.
Here, where eventually some 80 young LGBT adults will find a temporary home. Each will have a bed. Some rooms have seven.
"To be surrounded by our own peers, that's the most safest thing the city has ever done for us," Adams said.
It's a success story the city is talking up after communities in other areas of the city protested the arrival of new shelters.
"Yes, there are criticisms, and yes, there are voices, but ultimately, New Yorkers want to give people a helping hand," said Steven Banks, commissioner of the Department of Homeless Services.
While officials say the opening of this shelter has gone well, it's still the first. There are dozens more to go.
In fact, Brooklyn residents filed a petition in court on Tuesday to block the opening of a Crown Heights shelter for older, single men. It was supposed to open this week, but saw some fierce community opposition.
A lawyer for the residents told us the community wants what is known as a fair share hearing.
The city told us it plans to open the facility as soon as possible, which is expected to be next week.