The iconic Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan’s midtown, which closed its doors three years ago, is set to reopen soon. This time, it will be utilized as temporary accommodation for an expected influx of asylum seekers, coinciding with New York City’s move to transform hotels into emergency shelters. Mayor Eric Adams recently announced that the city plans to provide as many as 1,000 rooms in the historic property for migrants, who are anticipated to arrive in the city due to the expiration of Title 42—a set of pandemic-era rules which permitted federal officials to deny entry to asylum seekers at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The trend of converting tourist hotels into emergency shelters is increasingly visible throughout New York City. Prestigious hotels, formerly frequented by tourists, are being repurposed as temporary housing solutions near prominent landmarks such as Times Square, the World Trade Center memorial site, and the Empire State Building. New York City is legally required to offer shelter to those in need, but the capacity of the city’s shelters is dwindling. Mayor Adams has sought financial assistance from state and federal governments to cope with this escalating issue.
According to a statement from Mayor Adams, New York City has provided care for over 65,000 asylum seekers to date. By converting additional city properties, these efforts establish more than 140 emergency shelters and eight large-scale humanitarian relief centers across the city, with the Roosevelt Hotel set to join their ranks. This landmark hotel, located near Grand Central Terminal, famously served as the election headquarters for New York Governor Thomas Dewey during his 1948 presidential campaign against Harry Truman.
To address the increasing pressure on New York City’s shelter system, vacant hotel properties are being brought into service to afford poorer residents a roof over their heads as they work to reestablish their lives. Among the hotels transitioning into this new role is Manhattan’s Holiday Inn, situated in the city’s financial district. Not long ago, this 50-story, 500-room property displayed signs in the lobby windows declaring its closure.
Scott Markowitz of Tarter Krinsky & Drogin, who serves as the attorney for the Holiday Inn’s owner, suggests the move to act as a city-sponsored shelter is financially advantageous. He explains that renting out hotel rooms at a certain price every night generates ‘substantially more revenue’ than would be possible through standard operations. While the practice of repurposing hotels as shelters is not new to the city, it has taken on increased significance in light of the country’s ongoing housing crisis.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, group shelters were rendered ineffective due to social distancing guidelines. This prompted New York City to rent hundreds of hotel rooms as makeshift quarantine facilities. However, as the pandemic began to subside and group shelters became viable again, the city’s reliance on hotels lessened. Yet, with an influx of migrants traveling to the city by bus last year, the need for hotel-based housing solutions was renewed once more.
West 57th Street’s Watson Hotel, previously lauded for its rooftop pool and proximity to Central Park, is another hotel now providing accommodations for migrant families. The New York City Department of Social Services underscored the city’s moral and legal duty to offer shelter to all who need it. They emphasized the importance of utilizing any means available to meet the housing requirements of every family and individual seeking assistance.
New York City had already been grappling with a higher rate of homelessness, overcrowded shelters, and a lack of affordable housing options before the influx of asylum seekers. City officials even proposed sending hundreds of migrants to hotels in suburban Orange and Rockland counties just across the Hudson River, which was met with controversy from local leaders. Vijay Dandapani, the president and CEO of the Hotel Association of New York City, asserts that long-term solutions are needed to address these pressing concerns.
Mr. Dandapani argues that hotel accommodations are not an optimal solution for housing asylum seekers and homeless residents, highlighting potential misperceptions of luxury living at taxpayers’ expense. However, some advocates for the homeless counter that private hotel rooms represent a preferable alternative to the city’s typical barracks-style accommodations. Kassi Keith, a 55-year-old homeless individual in New York City, has expressed her appreciation for the hotel rooms being made available.
Ms. Keith explains that having a private room grants occupants a sense of peace and security, enabling them to ‘go to sleep with both eyes closed’ without the need for constant vigilance. Earlier this year, several asylum seekers protested after being evicted from hotel rooms and resettled in barracks located at the Brooklyn Cruise Terminal. The facility, hindered by limited access to public transportation, was criticized for its cold temperatures, inadequate privacy, and insufficient availability of bathrooms.
The Roosevelt Hotel will initially open as a welcome center, providing legal and medical information and resources to new arrivals. The hotel property will also make 175 rooms available for families with children, with plans to increase that number to 850 rooms in due course. Furthermore, the city intends to reserve 150 other rooms to accommodate additional asylum seekers.
David Giffen, the executive director of the Coalition for the Homeless, notes that offering individuals a private hotel room generates a more positive reaction than communal lodgings. He contends that hotel rooms provide asylum seekers with a level of ‘privacy and dignity’ often lacking in other forms of temporary housing. However, Mr. Giffen is quick to point out that hotel accommodations alone will not solve the overarching issue of scarce, affordable permanent housing.
The inherent shortcomings of the city’s housing system leave lower-income individuals relying on the shelter system as a makeshift housing solution. Mr. Giffen explains that due to the absence of sufficient beds in the city’s shelters, hotels effectively serve as a stopgap for the struggling shelter system. Addressing this challenge will require the implementation of comprehensive, sustainable policies to remedy the ongoing housing crisis.
The impending reopening of the Roosevelt Hotel to accommodate those in need signifies just one aspect of New York City’s broader strategy to cope with the influx of asylum seekers and the rising demand for temporary housing. It is crucial that long-term solutions be embraced to ensure the welfare and stability of the city’s most vulnerable residents, both native-born and migrant alike.
Ultimately, the transition of iconic hotels such as the Roosevelt into temporary shelters is a testament to New York City’s ongoing efforts to adapt to the ever-evolving needs of its inhabitants. However, such efforts must be further reinforced by policies and strategies aimed at addressing the root causes of homelessness and the shortage of affordable housing, so that lasting change may be achieved in the city that never sleeps.