A Practical Solution for NYC’s Veterans: Repurposing Vacant Hotel Shelters

Timothy Pena • March 31, 2026

NYC Department of Homeless Services Saw an Increase in Funding of 67% to House Immigrants in Hotels. Half of the Those Hotels are Now Empty

New York City has both a responsibility and an opportunity to correct a failing system that affects some of its most vulnerable residents—its veterans. While much attention has been given to identifying problems within the current transitional housing model, particularly at Borden Avenue, the more pressing question is: what can be done right now?

"The answer is both practical and immediately achievable—relocate veterans from Borden Avenue into vacant or closed hotel shelters previously used for immigrant housing."

Over the past several years, New York City rapidly expanded its use of hotels to accommodate an influx of migrants. At the height of this effort, hundreds of hotel rooms were secured across the five boroughs. However, with a reported 50% reduction in need, many of these hotels are now empty or have been closed altogether. This shift presents a unique opportunity to repurpose existing infrastructure for a population that has long been underserved.


Veterans currently housed at Borden Avenue are part of the VA’s Grant and Per Diem (GPD) transitional housing program, which is federally funded and designed to provide safe, structured, and supportive environments that promote recovery and independence. Yet the conditions described by many residents—including overcrowding, instability, and exposure to violence and substance use—fall short of that mission.

Relocating veterans into hotel-based shelters would immediately improve their living conditions. Hotels inherently provide private or semi-private rooms, secure environments, and basic amenities that promote dignity—something that is often lacking in large congregate shelter settings. This shift would not require new construction, zoning changes, or long-term planning. The infrastructure already exists.


Beyond physical conditions, the relocation would allow for a reset in how services are delivered. A hotel-based model could be structured to emphasize minimum security and maximum community engagement, rather than control and confinement. Veterans would have greater autonomy while still receiving the support they need.


Equally important is access. Many of these hotels are located in areas with better proximity to transportation, community resources, and essential services. This would allow veterans easier access to both the NYC Department of Veterans’ Services and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including medical and mental health care. Transportation barriers—one of the most frequently cited issues in the current system—could be significantly reduced or eliminated.

Critically, this model would also allow for inclusion of women veterans, who are currently underserved or excluded in existing configurations like Borden Avenue. A decentralized, hotel-based approach makes it easier to create safe, appropriate accommodations for both men and women without forcing them into unsuitable environments.


From a fiscal perspective, the argument is equally compelling. The NYC Department of Homeless Services budget has grown dramatically in recent years, rising from $2.3 billion in 2022 to approximately $4.0 billion just three years later. With that level of investment, there is no justification for maintaining substandard conditions when better alternatives are already available and, in many cases, unused.


This is not a system-wide overhaul. It is a targeted correction within a specific program. The VA’s GPD program already has defined standards and expectations. The City simply needs to align its implementation with those standards.


The failure to act is not due to a lack of resources—it is a lack of prioritization.


Relocating veterans from Borden Avenue into vacant hotel shelters is not a radical proposal. It is a practical, cost-effective, and humane solution that can be implemented immediately. It would restore dignity, improve safety, and realign the program with its intended purpose: helping veterans transition successfully into stable housing and civilian life.


New York City has the means. The question now is whether it has the will.