Chair Hudson asks why shelter count increased to 502

Thank you so much, Commissioner, for your testimony.

I will.

Kick it off with a few questions and then I'm going to turn to my colleagues in just a moment's time.

Your testimony noted that there are 502 shelters.

This is a significant increase from even two years ago.

What has led to the increase?

Thank you for the question.

I'll start, and I am going to be relying heavily on my colleagues for this hearing.

I mean, I think obviously we are a right-to-shelter city and proud to be one, and the increase in need from the asylum population certainly overwhelmed the system that DHS was operating during that time.

And so I'm personally grateful for all of the work that the city and the Department of Homeless Services did to open so many shelters in such a short period in order to accommodate that need.

Good afternoon.

Oh, sorry.

Go for it.

Christine Fellini, First Deputy Commissioner at the Department of Homeless Services.

To add to the Commissioner's comments, and as part of what will come up around repairs and the maintenance of buildings, we're also looking to replace old stock, right?

So as shelters become...

Not as we've decided to move towards more

purpose-built and more quality shelters, we can phase out those older buildings that are in need of significant repairs.

Thank you.