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Q&A
Support for migrants at Hall Street complex and future plans
3:36:12
·
111 sec
Council Member Hudson describes her office's efforts to support migrants at the Hall Street complex in her district and asks about MOIA's plans for future support. Commissioner Castro acknowledges the support and outlines changes to MOIA's model.
- Hall Street complex opened three years ago, housing 3,500 migrants
- Council Member's office organized town halls, resource fairs, and donation drives
- MOIA is adjusting its model to locate centers in immigrant-dense communities
- Case management assistance is provided for housing, but affordability remains a challenge
Crystal Hudson
3:36:12
Okay.
3:36:13
Thank you.
3:36:14
And then three years ago, the Hall Street complex opened in my district with almost no advance notice from this administration, housing roughly 3,500 migrants with minimal support.
3:36:23
My office immediately stepped up to serve both our new neighbors and longtime Clinton Hill residents.
3:36:28
We hosted a major town hall with elected officials to address shelter capacity, organized two may I continue, chairs?
Justin Brannan
3:36:35
Yes.
Crystal Hudson
3:36:36
Thank you.
3:36:37
Organized two resource fairs offering legal aid, food, and clothing.
3:36:41
We ran donation drives and delivered supplies directly to families in need, and we partnered with schools to enroll newly arrived children, all without much help from the administration.
3:36:50
Looking ahead, how does the office of immigrant affairs plan to use its budget to better support both the short and long term needs of migrants coming to our city?
3:36:58
And do you believe there should be dedicated funding and resources for migrant and refugee resettlement?
Manuel Castro
3:37:06
Well, first of all, thank you council member for the support you've provided to our American communities at Whole Street and in your district.
3:37:15
This is one of the reasons one of the major reasons why we've made changes to our model so that Moya centers are located in immigrant dense communities so that we have better coordination and communication directly in the districts where immigrants live or where we've, you know, temporarily housed them.
3:37:37
We're making we're learning from the last several years and making adjustments.
3:37:43
Again, in terms of resettlement programs, it's
Justin Brannan
3:37:49
hard
Manuel Castro
3:37:49
to say.
3:37:51
We provide case management assistance for people to find their own housing within within New York City neighborhoods.
3:37:59
But of course affordability is a crisis that all New Yorkers have experienced.