New York City Mayor Eric Adams has proposed the idea of housing migrants in the private homes of New Yorkers as the city struggles to find shelter for asylum seekers. According to the New York Post, homeowners would get compensated for housing the asylum seekers. The mayor not only praised the assistance it would give to migrants, but also the economic benefits it would provide for New Yorkers, many of whom are struggling financially.
Adams floated the idea after religious leaders agreed to start housing adult male migrants overnight at 50 places of worship in the city. Although places of worship could receive a nightly rate of around $125 per asylum seeker from the city, the compensation for housing the migrants in private residences has not yet been revealed. These alternatives to housing asylum seekers in hotels offers a more affordable path for the city as hotel rooms are costing the city around $380 per household. The New York Post reports that if Adams’ plan moves forward, it would mean that New Yorkers who house migrants would make more money than a foster parent receives for raising a child.
Further defending the idea, Adams said this path forward would be “cheaper” and is a “good investment” that assists families in need rather than congregating everyone together in large settings or hotels. Adams noted that housing migrants in private homes also carries the benefit of helping them adjust to their new lives if the hosts are bilingual.
Despite Adams’ enthusiasm for the plan, some New Yorkers are not too happy with it. One said that it would cause chaos, while another pointed out that “migrants shouldnt’ be getting a ‘free ride’ when many New Yorkers ‘cannot afford a decent place of their own.’” Another New Yorker questioned the vetting process of both migrants and the private residences.
Adams knows his plan would need to make it through a few hurdles. He acknowledged that City Hall would need to “get over a ‘30 day rule’ for his plan to work. Asked for clarity on the rule, a City Hall spokesperson later cited New York law that requires a guest to be living in a residence for 30 days before they can legally become a tenant.” Adams is intent on getting his proposal passed through and vowed to follow all the rules, changing those he can within his or the state’s power if necessary.