Shelter System and Intake

In the City of New York, individuals and families experiencing homelessness have the right to access shelter, regardless of their immigration status, when they have no other safe place to go. If someone is in need of shelter, they can seek assistance at intake shelters.

 
In order to access the NYC shelter system, adults must apply for shelter at a designated intake center, and do the same for their children. Single men and single women will go to different shelter intake locations. Individuals can stay at an intake center for up to 30 days without needing to provide an application or proof of eligibility. Following an interview, the intake center will decide on the appropriate shelter plan.
 
 

What to bring to the shelter intake process

 
The intake center will need to see documents verifying your identity and your need for shelter to confirm your eligibility for shelter. Below are the recommended documents to bring to the shelter intake process. Dial “311” to access the NYC emergency shelter hotline and for any questions related to the shelter intake process.
 

• Any form of ID with a photo and date of birth (for example, passport, visa, or driver’s license).
• If available, your Social Security card.
• If available, your Medicaid card.
• If working, a recent paystub.
• If you have a disability and would like to request shelter with certain accommodations, the DHS recommends that you bring medical documentation to the intake process.

Extending your stay as a new arrival at a shelter

 
You can schedule an appointment for an interview with your shelter if you wish to extend your stay at the shelter. You are eligible to extent your stay as a new arrival at a shelter if:
 

• You have PRUCOL (Permanent Residence Under Color of Law) status*.
• You have found another place to stay and will move there in the next 30 days.
• You will be leaving NYC in the next 30 days.
• You have a hearing or immigration proceeding in the next 30 days.
• You are recovering from a serious medical procedure or have a procedure scheduled in the next 30 days.
• You have made efforts to move out of the shelter but do not have anywhere else to go yet.
• You are 18-20 years old and are enrolled in high school.

 
*PRUCOL refers to a residency status in New York City for individuals who are not U.S. citizens but have been permitted to stay in the U.S. by the Department of Homeland Security. This status is important as it makes individuals eligible for public benefits, such as Medicaid. It’s worth noting that PRUCOL is not officially recognized as an immigration status by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS).
 

Types of shelters you could be referred to within NYC

 
There are a variety of shelters NYC residents can go to. See a list of shelter types below.
 

• Drop-In Centers (emergency services)
• Shelter for New Arrivals to NYC
• Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRC) for New Arrivals.
• Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Shelters for Parents and Children.
• DHS Shelter for Families with Only Adults.
• Shelters for Single Adults.
• Runaway Youth Shelters.
• LGBTQ+ Shelters.
• Respite Centers.
• Faith-based centers.

 
For a list of additional shelters go to www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/get-help/i-need-shelter.
 

Drop-In Shelter Centers

If you are experiencing homelessness, drop-in centers provide access to emergency services such as hot meals, clothing, showers, laundry, case management, and medical and mental health services. They are open 24/7, including holidays, and available to everyone regardless of immigration status. Staff can also assist with transitioning to permanent housing.
 
Please find a list of drop-in center by boroughs below.

Bronx

Living Room
800 Baretto Street, Bronx, NY 10474.
(718) 893- 3606.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In-person services include laundry and showers; nutrition; housing placement and benefits assistance; drug and alcohol treatment referrals; medical and psychiatric care; medication monitoring; Nutrional assistance; substance abuse counseling
 

Manhattan

Main Chance
120 East 32nd Street, New York, NY 10016.
212-883-0680.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In-person services include emergency overnight shelter; medical care; social work; nutrition.
 
Olivieri Center for Homeless
257 West 30th Street (between 7th Avenue and 8th Avenue).
212-947-3211.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In-person services include meals, access to showers and restrooms, clothing, case management, mental health and rehabilitation services, housing placement assistance, and referral to an emergency respite center.
 

Brooklyn

The Gathering Place
2402 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11233
718-385-8713.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In person services include three meals a day; shower/laundry and access to clothing; mail and phone services; therapeutic recreational activities; case management services/benefits assistance; medical/mental health services and referrals to treatment resources.
 

Queens

Breaking Ground
100-32 Atlantic Avenue (at 102 Street), Jamaica, NY 11416
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In person services include nutritious meals; showers and bathrooms; laundry; medical and psychiatric services; case management and benefits assistance; assistance with housing.
 

Staten Island

Project Hospitality
150 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY, 10301.
718-720-0079.
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.
In person services include assistance with benefits; 3 meals/day; laundry and showers; referrals; assistance with housing; arranges referrals to overnight faith-based shelters.
 
Updated on October 7, 2024
 

New Arrival to New York City

New arrivals are considered individuals who entered the United States after March 15, 2022, and who are afraid to return to their home city. New arrivals will utilize a different shelter system than other individuals.

 
The Arrival Center at the Roosevelt Hotel
45 E 45th Street, New York, NY, 10017.
Open 24 hours per day, including weekends and holidays.
 
When you first arrive in New York City as a New Arrival, visit the Arrival Center. There, they will help you find shelter in NYC or in your city of choice. Please note, new arrivals cannot choose their shelter placement. The Arrival Center will help you pay for transportation and tickets.
 
If desired, they can also help you enroll in health insurance and school, as well as access medical assistance or mental health services. Single adult new arrivals under 23 can stay in their initial shelter placement for up to 60 days, while new arrivals over age 23 can stay in their initial shelter placement for up to 30 days before requesting an extension of their placement.

Humanitarian Emergency Response and Relief Centers (HERRC)

HERRCs are shelters in New York City that provide housing, food, and other services to asylum seekers and their families. HERRCs provide a range of services, including healthcare, meals, laundry, relocation assistance, case management, and more.

 
At the shelter, sleeping spaces will be shared with other individuals, but families with minors have access to private rooms or cubicles for their comfort and privacy. In addition to accommodation, HERRCs offer meals, laundry services, healthcare, relocation support, and case management to assist individuals and families. The locations of HERRC shelters are provided upon request after a new arrival at the Roosevelt Hotel. Some of the HERRC locations include:
 

• Randall’s Island. This HERRC has a separate area for transgender and gender nonconforming guests.
• Creedmoor Psychiatric Center. Located in eastern Queens, this HERRC is a tent shelter.
• Crowne Plaza JFK Airport New York. Located in Queens, this HERRC serves 330 families.
• 47 Hall Street. Located in Brooklyn, this HERRC serves 1,400 adults.
• Floyd Bennett Field. Located in southeast Brooklyn, this HERRC is a tent shelter.

For Children and Families: Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH)

Families with children experiencing homelessness can apply for shelter at the Department of Homeless Services’ Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) center. PATH is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week (including holidays and weekends). They process shelter applications from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Find the center at 151 East 151st Street, Bronx, NY 10451.

 
Eligibility
Families who do not have alternative housing options will be offered a permanent shelter placement. Families with children younger than 21, families with a pregnant woman, and pregnant women are eligible.
 
Services
PATH will identify housing needs, provide resources to help prevent homelessness, and place families experiencing homelessness in a shelter. All families will be offered a temporary shelter placement during the application process. Interpreter assistance will be available.
 
How It Works
Once you arrive at PATH, you will first be interviewed by a Human Resources Administration (HRA) caseworker. The caseworker will inquire about your living situation and explain the services that may help you avoid entering shelter, including family mediation, anti-eviction legal services, out-of-city relocation assistance, the Family Homelessness Eviction Prevention Supplement (FHEPS), or a One-Shot Deal through HRA.
 
You may be assigned a temporary shelter placement for up to 10 days while DHS investigates the information provided during the interview. Based on the investigation, DHS determines whether you are eligible for shelter based on whether you have fully cooperated with the application and eligibility process, and have other housing options available. Reasons you might be denied shelter include:
 

• Failure to prove that all members in your case belong to one family
• Failure to attend meetings and interviews
• Attempting to add someone to the “household” who does not qualify under PATH standards, or did not provide adequate information on this individual
• Failure to provide an incomplete 2-year housing history
• Other housing options are available to you

 
If the shelter system deems you ineligible for shelter, you have the right to reapply by phone. The phone number will be provided on your denial notice. However, if you are logged out of the shelter system, you must visit the shelter in person to reopen the application process.
 
Updated on October 7, 2024
 

Shelter for Single Adults

Single men can apply for shelter in person at the locations listed below.

• 30th Street Intake Center.
• 400-430 East 30th Street in Manhattan.

 
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 

Single women can apply for shelter in-person at the locations listed below. Please note, these intake shelters are unfortunately not accessible to wheelchairs or to people with mobility disabilities.

• HELP Women’s Shelter
  116 Williams Avenue between Liberty Avenue and Glenmore Avenue in Brooklyn
  Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week

 

• Franklin Avenue Women’s Intake Shelter
  1122 Franklin Avenue near 166th Street
  718-842-9865

 
Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
 
Updated on October 7, 2024.
 

Respite Centers

Respite centers are shelters designed for short-term stays. Initially intended to assist individuals going through emotional or mental health crises as a substitute for hospitals, many of these centers now also welcome adults experiencing homelessness.

 
Respite Centers welcome single adults and adult families. Please note that families with minor children will not be assigned to a respite shelter.
 
These centers are usually located in repurposed office buildings, churches, or schools. Residents are provided with a cot, blanket, meals, and access to a bathroom. It’s important to mention that respite centers offer fewer services than long-term shelters.
 
For locations of specific locations, please visit this link: www.nyc.gov/site/doh/health/health-topics/crisis-emergency-services-respite-centers.page.
 

Faith-Based Shelter Programs

 
Many places of worship in New York City serve as shelters. They usually have a capacity of 20 people and are only open at night.
 
Find a faith-based shelter at www.emergencyshelternetwork.org/our-shelters.