Background

On June 14, 2024, right before the school year ended, the New York Department of Social Services (DSS)/Department of Homeless Services (DHS) informed Community Board 1 of its intention to open a low barrier Safe Haven shelter operated by Breaking Ground in "Fall 2024" at 320 Pearl Street, a former Hampton Inn physically attachedto Peck Slip School. Peck Slip School is a public elementary school of grades Prek to 5th grade, which means children ages 3 through 11 attend the school. It is also home to a District 2 Prek Center.

By definition and per NYC's own policies, low barrier Safe Haven shelters have minimal restrictions on who they allow into the shelter. They accept Level 1 and Level 2 sex offenders who have completed parole or probation, and do not impose any drug or alcohol sobriety requirements. Minimal or no curfews are also standard.

320 Pearl Street, which abuts Peck Slip School, is 5 feet from an entrance and exit used by children and approximately 55 feet from the play street on Peck Slip utilized by children during daily recess. It is so close to Peck Slip School that New York State law does not even allow wine or liquor sales in that space due to the safety risk the mere sale of alcohol presents to children.

The 320 Pearl Street Safe Haven has an outdoor courtyard where smoking cigarettes and marijuana will be permitted and school windows directly face this smoke-filled area.

This summer alone there have been at least two murders at housing facilities operated by Breaking Ground.

The conversion of a hotel into a low barrier Safe Haven shelter attached to an elementary school is wholly-unprecedented in New York City and City Hall and DSS made this decision with complete indifference about the suitability of the location. A family shelter would have been far more appropriate for this location.

CB1 has passed a strong resolution opposing this shelter and local elected officials have also clearly come out against it, all to City Hall's deaf ears. Please donate what you can so we can hold City Hall and DSS accountable for this dangerous plan. We understand the importance of shelters and helping unsheltered New Yorkers get off the street--we are not saying "not in our backyard", we are saying "not in a building attached to an elementary school".