New York relaxes its rules to welcome homeless people before the arrival of migrants

New York City has decided to relax regulations governing the sheltering of homeless individuals in response to the influx of migrants and the anticipated increase in numbers when the Title 42 rule expires. Mayor Eric Adams signed an emergency executive order suspending parts of the law that required the city to provide a bed to anyone in need. The order removes requirements such as having a private kitchen and bathroom for homeless families, allowing them to be placed in communal shelters, and extends the time limits for providing beds.

The city attributes the need for these measures to an “unprecedented humanitarian crisis” caused by the arrival of thousands of asylum seekers, particularly from Venezuela, in recent months. Mayor Adams states that the city received an additional 4,200 people last week and is currently welcoming an average of 500 new individuals every day. The situation has also impacted the education system, with some schools having to open special classes to accommodate the influx of Latino children in certain areas of Manhattan.

The expiration of Title 42, a rule allowing the United States to carry out expulsions for public health reasons, is expected to result in a further increase in migrants and asylum seekers entering from the Mexican border. New York City has already received nearly 61,000 migrants since last spring, with around 37,000 currently being housed in hotels and other facilities provided by the City Hall. Mayor Adams has expressed criticism of the Texas authorities’ policy of chartering buses to bring migrants to the city but has also explored options such as facilitating travel to Canada to alleviate the situation. However, plans to send migrants to hotels in Rockland County have faced opposition from local authorities.