Mayor Zohran Mamdani has issued an emergency executive order mandating a review of New York City’s emergency migrant shelters. The order requires the city to devise a plan within 45 days to either close or renovate these shelters, according to a statement from City Hall. The plan is expected to address compliance with existing city laws concerning maximum capacity and cooking facilities in family shelters.
The review falls under the jurisdiction of the Department of Social Services and the Department of Homeless Services, which will work alongside the Law Department. They must submit their recommendations by February 19, 2024. These regulations were previously suspended following a series of emergency executive orders signed by former Mayor Eric Adams, beginning in October 2022, aimed at managing the surge of migrants entering the city’s shelter system.
During the peak of this influx, the Adams administration established a network of temporary shelters, which included hotels, large tent camps, and other makeshift facilities. At one point, the city was operating 261 migrant shelters. However, as the number of migrants entering the shelter system decreased from mid-2024, many of these facilities were closed.
According to a spokesperson for the Adams administration, as of late December, only three emergency shelters remained outside the traditional shelter system managed by the Department of Homeless Services. Additionally, approximately 200 migrant shelters, primarily located in hotels, have been integrated into the DHS system.
The new executive order reflects a shift in the city’s approach to managing migrant housing, emphasizing compliance with long-standing regulations as the number of new arrivals declines. This development raises questions about the future of temporary shelters in New York City and how the administration plans to balance immediate needs with regulatory standards.
