Arrest records from September 2022 through 2025 reveal additional concerns. More than seventy arrests were recorded during that period, including approximately twenty-one felony arrests. Charges included assaults, narcotics offenses, weapons possession, terroristic threats, and violent offenses involving police officers and emergency personnel. Assault-related charges accounted for nearly half of all arrests. While arrests do not necessarily indicate guilt or conviction, the frequency and nature of these incidents raise concerns regarding safety within New York City's only VA Grant and Per Diem transitional housing program.²
Concerns regarding conditions at Borden Avenue are not new.
In 2008, shortly after the Institute for Community Living assumed operation of the facility, the Queens Chronicle reported allegations of mismanagement, diminished community oversight, and longstanding concerns regarding drug activity. Community Board 2 representative Marvin Jeffcoat publicly called for suspension of the shelter's contract and stated that neighborhood involvement had declined after the change in operators. Residents described feeling unsafe, and one veteran reportedly chose to sleep in a friend's vehicle rather than return to the shelter.⁴
More recently, members of Queens Community Board 2 accused the Department of Homeless Services and shelter providers of failing to uphold promises made to the community and expressed concerns regarding violence, drug use, accountability, and declining communication with advisory boards. Community leaders argued that shelter residents deserved safety and appropriate care.⁵
None of these findings diminish the challenges faced by veterans experiencing homelessness. Many residents struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, and other behavioral health conditions. Emergencies are expected in any congregate setting serving vulnerable populations. However, advocates argue that the frequency and severity of incidents at Borden Avenue warrant closer examination and renewed oversight.
For veterans who have already endured combat, trauma, and homelessness, transitional housing should provide a bridge to recovery and permanent housing. The question facing policymakers, providers, and the Department of Veterans Affairs is not whether crises occur, but whether New York City's only federally funded veterans transitional housing program is providing the stable and therapeutic environment envisioned by the Grant and Per Diem program.
