A new homeless shelter for families with children \u2014 and soon, their pets \u2014 has officially opened in Flushing, Queens.<\/p>\n
The 90-unit facility will eventually allow residents to live with their furry companions, in hopes the latter will provide stability as their owners get back on their feet. The initiative is the latest in a push by the city to improve shelter conditions for homeless New Yorkers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a new way of thinking of how shelters should be, more inclusive, more holistic,\u201d said Helen Arteaga, New York City’s deputy mayor for health and human services. \u201c\u200aometimes children have their cats, their hamsters and they don’t want to leave them behind, especially when they’re feeling so insecure in life.\u201d<\/p>\n
City officials say they\u2019re working to move out of old, dilapidated shelter buildings that are often run by private landlords and build nicer facilities that are owned by nonprofits<\/a> and designed to better meet the needs of homeless people.<\/p>\n The shelter in Flushing, called Magnolia Gardens, is newly built, with a spacious recreation room for children, a laundry facility, recess lighting, and feng shui elements such as a water fountain in the lobby. Once the shelter, which will open to residents this week, gets final city approval, pets will be able to move in, too.<\/p>\n \u201dPets are part of the family. So imagine tearing a pet apart from their family and they can’t go into shelter with them. It’s heartbreaking,\u201d said Nathaniel Fields, CEO of the nonprofit Urban Resource Institute, which co-owns and will manage the site.<\/p>\n He said building more welcoming spaces, with private rooms and pet-friendly accommodations, will help convince more street homeless New Yorkers or victims of domestic violence to seek shelter.<\/p>\n The $60 million development is among more than two dozen shelter sites owned and managed by nonprofits and financed by the city. City officials say that investment will ultimately save taxpayers money and help homeless New Yorkers find stability more quickly.<\/p>\n