Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
NYC to close 10 upstate migrant hotel shelters by end of 2024
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 31, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Spencer Platt/Getty Images
By
Arya Sundaram
Published Oct 31, 2024
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
New York City will close all 10 of its migrant shelters in upstate New York by the end of the year. The more than 1,100 adults and children occupying the facilities will be required to leave, with the option to seek temporary shelter in the city.
The constellation of sites, stretching from Westchester and Albany to the Buffalo area, will close by Dec. 31, City Hall spokesperson Liz Garcia confirmed. CBS6 in Albany first reported on the developments, which mark the end in a contentious chapter between the upstate communities and Mayor Eric Adams’ administration.
The Adams administration began shuttling migrants upstate in May 2023, amid a migrant influx and shortage of local shelter beds. Dozens of counties issued emergency orders to bar sites in their communities from being used as shelters, pressed their case in the courts and otherwise moved to block the siting of migrant shelters in their borders.
The closures coincide with the end of the city’s controversial $432 million no-bid emergency contract with DocGo, a medical services company that was hired to operate nearly all the city’s upstate migrant shelters but has since been mired in scandal.
The move also comes amid a decline in the number of new migrants, largely asylum-seekers, seeking shelter in New York City. Migrants’ departures from city shelters are now outpacing new arrivals, according to city data. Garcia said in the past week, 600 new migrants entered city shelters as more than 1,000 left.
“We’re really scaling down our operations,” said Garcia. “It’s part of that push.”
Earlier this month, Adams announced plans to close the once-3,000-bed tent shelter for migrants on Randall’s Island, one of the largest and most controversial shelter sites. In announcing the closure, planned for February 2025, Adams said the number of new arrivals had declined for 14 consecutive weeks.
All of the residents in the soon-to-close upstate shelters have received notices that they’ll be required to leave by Dec. 31, according to Garcia. CBS 6 reported the letters were distributed to hundreds of asylum-seekers staying in Albany hotels.
The letters said residents could seek help from an on-site "exit planning team ... if you need assistance planning your next steps." Also mentioned was the option to reapply for temporary shelter in New York City, with the caveat that stays for migrants are limited to 30- or 60 days.
The migrants upstate have struggled to find permanent housing and legal help, said Tim Doherty, the CEO of the Refugee Welcome Corporation, an immigrant aid group in Albany. He said the new arrivals often flee to Albany from New York City, after facing shelter delays or grappling with concerns about city violence.
The Adams administration announced in April that it would drop its then soon-to-expire contract with DocGo, in the wake of controversies with the company, and after city Comptroller Brad Lander revoked the mayor’s power to easily renew such emergency contracts.
In August 2023, state Attorney General Letitia James opened an investigation into allegations that DocGo mistreated migrants in its care, following a New York Times report. A New York Department of State investigation found more than 50 security guards hired by DocGo’s subcontractors lacked proper authorization.
Additionally, DocGo CEO Anthony Capone resigned last year following a report by the Albany Times Union that he falsified his qualifications.
Despite his criticisms of DocGo, Lander granted the mayor’s request to temporarily extend the company’s contract to work in upstate shelters until the end of the year, to wind down its operations upstate.
Over the past several months, the population in upstate shelters has dropped by about half.
In late February, 2,263 migrants were living in city-run shelters outside the five boroughs, according to data from the comptroller’s office. At the time, there were 14 city-run migrant shelters outside New York City, according to data published by the City Council.
The remaining 10 sites are located in Albany, Dutchess, Erie, Orange and Westchester counties, according to City Hall data.
Migrants in upstate shelters have long represented a small fraction of the total migrant shelter census. Now, they make up about 2% of the roughly 60,000 migrants residing in over 200 city-run shelters.
The city is forging ahead with a novel resettlement program — heralded by immigrants and progressive advocates as a model — to help 539 migrants leave hotel shelters in Buffalo, apply for asylum, and find apartments and jobs.
Jewish Family Services, the nonprofit refugee resettlement provider contracted to run the $22 million program, has been conducting screenings to enroll asylees in the program over the past couple months, according to Garcia and the nonprofit.
Tagged
Asylum Seekers
housing
new york
economy
Race And Justice Unit
Arya Sundaram
Arya is a reporter covering race and justice. Got a tip? Email: [email protected] or reach Arya on Signal at 512-650-8767.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Parents grumble as NYC schools chancellor dodges calls for NYC schools integration plan
Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones said she felt disappointed by the lack of details.
By
Jessica Gould
Published Oct 20, 2026 at 10:01 p.m. ET
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
News
Driver found with apparent gunshot wound on George Washington Bridge, officials say
The westbound upper level was closed Tuesday night as Port Authority police investigated the incident.
By
Charles Lane
16 arrested in New York auto insurance fraud crackdown involving nearly $500K
By
Giulia Heyward
Coney Island's small, 1890s lighthouse may be landmarked by the city
By
Catalina Gonella
New renderings are out for Queens' Metropolitan Park casino
By
Willow Higgins
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .