Migrants evicted from shelters face limited housing options

BUSHWICK, Brooklyn (PIX11) — Elisabeth is a 21-year-old Honduran migrant living in a shelter in Bushwick, Brooklyn, and she happily professes her love for the city she now calls home.

But after receiving a new letter from Shelter staff, she’s worried about where she’ll be writing her next chapter as she cares for her 3-week-old son.

The letter, dated August 20 ^th , written in Spanish and printed on city Department of Homeless Services letterhead warns Elisabeth her shelter stay may soon be coming to an end.

This report, prompted by a single line in the second paragraph aims to explore the fate of migrants, like Elisabeth, who don’t have anyone to count on here in the US: “For those who have no other option, the City’s shelter system will continue to operate, though there may be delays and limited availability.”

“I don’t know because I don’t have a family here. I’m alone, just with my baby,” said Elisabeth.

But a spokesperson for the Mayor’s office confirms there are currently 49,500 migrant families in the city’s care. Additionally, between August 12 ^th and the 18th, 700 new migrants arrived in New York City, while 1200 left the city’s care.

There’s also no way to tell how many of those migrants left for other cities or how many are now out on the street.

Elisabeth says she needs to find childcare for her newborn son before making the trip back to Manhattan to reapply for shelter. Her ultimate goal is to live on her own and get back to doing what she knows for work – being a waitress.

“It’s difficult for me because my baby is too little and I think for other persons, it’s more difficult because somebody has more babies and doesn’t have work,” said Elisabeth.

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