NYC parents and locals protest homeless men’s shelter being built a short walk from middle school

Parents, teachers and residents in Canarsie, Brooklyn, protested plans for a 200-bed men’s homeless shelter on East 108th Street, about one block from Science and Medicine Middle School 366. They want answers from city officials and Mayor Zohran Mamdani, citing the shelter’s proximity to the school and concerns about how residents were consulted.

The shelter is expected to open in 2028 and is part of a city plan for 12 new shelters, including three in Brooklyn. Council member Mercedes Narcisse said she was informed only last week and had not been asked for input; she requested a meeting with the Department of Social Services commissioner. The department said notifying elected officials and community boards begins a process that includes opportunities for community engagement.