A migrant housing plan that’s inspired by faith

Christianity is not alone among the world’s great faith traditions calling its followers to shelter those in need. Jesus identifies himself as someone who “has nowhere to lay his head.” The Hebrew prophet Isaiah calls his people to “Take the poor into your homes.” The Holy Qur’an commands Muslims to care for those in need.

With the recent arrival of 44,000 migrants to NYC who join the already unhoused 45,000 New Yorkers in the shelter system at the beginning of 2022, communities of diverse faiths and houses of worship may soon have an opportunity to put our beliefs into action — and in so doing, set an example to other sectors of our city to do their part as well.

Mayor Adams has on his desk a proposal that would allow for 50 or more diverse houses of worship to provide shelter for up to 19 migrants a night — providing migrants with a hot meal, a place to store their belongings and some access to social services. More than 19 beds would trigger a host of regulations from the state Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance that would be prohibitive for most congregations.

No one envisions guests sleeping on pew benches. Rather, church, mosque and synagogue basements or multi-use parish halls with access to showers are the ideal. The city would reimburse the houses of worship — as it does other nonprofit contractors — to the tune of $75 per night, per person — a bargain compared to the $200-300 per night currently spent on reimbursing commercial hotels.

This is not a novel proposal. From Catholic Charities to the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS) and Lutheran Social Services, city, state, and the federal government all contract with faith-based organizations for everything from foster care to refugee resettlement.

When it comes to emergency shelter specifically, under Mayor Ed Koch the city developed a partnership with over 100 faith communities who housed homeless individuals referred by city-run drop-in centers. The program shrank under Mayor Bloomberg, but the Emergency Shelter Network lasted in one form or another until the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since the first buses rolled into Port Authority, there have been migrants who would prefer to sleep on the street than stay overnight in an NYC shelter. Whether because they are members of the LGBTQ community and fear assault or are traumatized by specific ordeals along the nine countries route through desert, jungle and detention centers, a subgroup of migrants will do better in a smaller setting.

Indeed, if what we want are conditions that will foster the long-term success of recently arrived New Yorkers, then small shelters are suitable. And for some people, whether they are new to NYC or were born here, a small safe shelter is the only setting that will bring them in from the cold.

Faith-based emergency shelters also can provide relationships and community that does not exist in a large institutional setting. Before the pandemic, I volunteered regularly at a church in Harlem that housed asylum seekers. I got to hear the guests’ stories while staying over. In our conversations in English or halting French, I heard about why they left home: jailed for being a student reporter in Iran. Persecuted for being gay in the Congo. In turn, I would share job leads or legal contacts. If all went well, one day, I would return to discover that a guest had moved on or moved out.

The faith-based emergency shelter proposal under consideration by the mayor’s office is not a substitute for the city and state building more affordable and social housing, fixing NYCHA, improving the shelter system, and expanding the successful Housing Voucher Access Program to include both citizens and non-citizens.

Nothing will replace the need for systemic changes and bold political leadership in housing and immigration policy. Fifty or 60 houses of worship opening their doors won’t make much of a dent numbers-wise.

This proposal would, however, provide safe space and make a real difference in the lives of a substantial number of people seeking shelter. It would also be a living illustration that every sector in our city has a role to play confronting the housing crisis — including business, real estate, philanthropy, private individuals, and every level of government. We did it during the pandemic and we can now as well.

At their best — and particularly in times of crisis — houses of worship and the diverse and faithful communities that build them contribute to the common good of all New Yorkers — think Red Cross volunteer chaplaincy after 9/11, repairs and rebuilding after Hurricane Sandy. This proposal for NYC to support faith-based emergency shelter is yet another opportunity to do just that.

Breyer, an Episcopal priest, is executive director of The Interfaith Center of New York.