Assemblyman Lester Chang and Senator Steve Chan rallied on March 27 at 10th Avenue and 50th Street to oppose a plan to integrate homeless transient tenants with long-term residents at the Borough Park Apartments.
The proposal would bring together families who have lived in the building for decades with individuals experiencing homelessness. Chang said he believes this type of forced integration is unsafe and unacceptable, and announced he is filing a temporary restraining order to halt the plan.
“We’re making New Yorkers fearful of their own home,” said Chang. “Homelessness is a complex issue that requires a complex solution. This is an unprecedented experiment with no proven track record of success. It is unfair to ask these residents to deal with those problems on their own.”
According to information released by Chang, the housing proposal would accommodate up to 82 families, totaling around 300 residents, including about 100 adults and 200 children. While acknowledging that solutions are needed for New York City’s homeless crisis, Chang said permanent, long-term housing should be prioritized over experimental approaches like this one.
The lawmakers’ actions reflect ongoing debates about how best to address homelessness while balancing concerns from existing community members.
