Coalition for the Homeless and the Legal Aid Society issued the following joint statement in response to the Adams Administration’s plan to close the Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Center at Floyd Bennett Field: “Floyd Bennett Field – a semi-congregate facility where families with children live in tents on an unused airfield mired in a flood zone, miles from schools, and other services – was always the wrong location to shelter vulnerable families with young children. “While we welcome this closure, one which we have long advocated for because this site was never an appropriate setting for families with children and raised concerns about families’ safety, we are mindful of the disruption it causes to the families we serve, who above all else are longing for stability. We also want to ensure that children’s learning continues, their access to the classroom is not impeded, and households can still reach employment opportunities, healthcare, and critical services. “Lastly, in preparation for the president-elect’s plans to implement mass deportations nationwide, we are closely monitoring these closures and transfers to ensure new arrivals’ access to shelter and protection from any potential federal immigration enforcement dragnets.”
