New Women’s Shelter Coming to the UWS

After the Lucerne Hotel shelter for homeless men sparked controversy and divided the Upper West Side in 2020, the community could be bracing for another battle.

The Department of Social Services recently announced that a 200-bed women’s shelter will be opening in 2024 at 537 West 59th Street.

While there are currently no women’s shelters in the UWS, many remember there was one at 237 West 107th that was beloved in the community, but in 2019 was converted to a men’s shelter. The new facility will offer women experiencing homelessness and mental health challenges the opportunity to be sheltered in their home borough, closer to their support networks, including schools, jobs, health care, family and social services.

“Working together with neighbors and not-for-profit service provider Project Renewal, we’re confident that these New Yorkers will be warmly welcomed — and through collaborative support and compassion, we will make this the best experience it can be for all,” said a DSS spokesman.

DSS is in the process of phasing out all commercial hotel locations in the area.

Steve Brown, chair of CB 7, told the West Side Spirit that right now the board’s focus is on gathering more information. Brown plans to meet with the appropriate committees and hopes to speak with the Department of Homeless Services directly so that they are fully informed going forward.

At this site, Project Renewal will provide an array of on-site and off-site services, including case management, individual and group counseling, permanency planning and housing placement assistance, onsite medical and mental health services, support groups, independent living and life skills workshops and support in finding and securing employment.

Off-site services will be primary healthcare, health/mental health services, referrals to substance use treatment, vocational training, employment placement, GED instruction, conflict mediation and legal services.

It will also offer mental health and behavioral health services onsite as needed and facilitate connections to care in the community.

There will also be 24/7 security, with a minimum of two security officers at the entrance, minimum of 15 security staff per shift and one supervisor overseeing each shift. As an added measure, a total of 70 security cameras will be installed throughout the building and across the shelter grounds.

There will be a 10 p.m. curfew for the women, and clients who may be employed with late work hours will receive passes to return to the facility late based on their documented work schedule.

City Council Member Helen Rosenthal voiced reservations about the project. “While I wholeheartedly support the City’s mandate that every person experiencing homelessness receive shelter, and am especially supportive of any project that will help vulnerable women rebuild their lives, the proposed shelter on West 59th appears to be a missed opportunity to create new affordable housing. Why not stop for a moment and re-think the possibility for affordable housing at this location? If there are zoning or financing hurdles - let’s meet those challenges. At the end of the day, the ONLY solution to homelessness is the creation of affordable homes.”