Legal Aid Society Attorney Josh Goldfein speaking to reporters outside New York County Supreme Courthouse. The city and Legal Aid reached a settlement in the months-long right-to-shelter case on Friday, March 15, 2024.to get news, updates, and local insights delivered straight to your inbox!
The most significant part of the plan is that it guarantees single adult migrants an initial 30 days in shelter, but only allows them to re-enter the system on a case-by-case basis if they demonstrate they fall within certain extenuating circumstances. Time in shelter is already limited for single adult new arrivals to, but it may now be harder for them to get another placement under the agreement.
“Today, we are able to preserve the right-to-shelter, which we think is a good thing, and we are also able to get flexibility,” Williams-Isom said. “While the ultimate solution for this immigration issue lies with the federal government, and we all know that, this agreement represents the tireless good faith efforts of everyone here to address one of the biggest crises to ever face the city.”
But the standard for who can get their shelter placement renewed could prove to be a point of contention between the city and Legal Aid going forward. “If they have done that, then that’s an extenuating circumstance, spelled out in the document, that is one of the reasons why the city will be required to give you more time,” Goldfein said. Now, it’s going to be an individualized review on a case-by-case basis, they’re going to look at all your facts. ‘What have you done?’”