A struggling city initiative aimed at paying houses of worship to shelter migrants is getting a reboot that could see dozens of religious institutions welcoming newcomers, according to immigrant rights activists, housing experts and interfaith leaders involved in the effort.
Negotiations between city officials and the faith leaders, joined by immigrant rights and housing activists, have progressed on compromises, including on bed limits and fire safety provisions, the non-governmental officials say could make more institutions eligible to house migrants – amid an influx that has seen more than 120,000 arrive since spring 2022.
Adams administration officials declined to comment on the status of the negotiations, which come as city officials say they are running out of options for housing migrants. Adams recently instituted 30- and 60-day stay limits for the newcomers, as part of a plan to free up shelter beds for newly arrived migrants, mostly asylum-seekers applying for sanctuary in the U.S.
The $75 million faith-based shelter program, launched by the Adams administration with the nonprofit New York Disaster Interfaith Services in early June, was intended to provide nearly 1,000 beds across as many as 50 houses of worship. Instead, the vast majority of the faith-based organizations that applied for the program were deemed ineligible, leaving the initiative far short of its goals.
But activists long frustrated by the bureaucratic roadblocks said they are encouraged by a renewed push by the city to advance the initiative, including a key change that would see participating institutions house up to 15 migrants each, lowered from an initial target of 19. By lowering the figure, people involved in the negotiations say participating institutions wouldn’t be required to adhere to more stringent fire codes.
Other changes include allowing designated fire wardens to staff facilities, providing protection for residents in lieu of sprinklers and fire detection and…
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