Pena says Bellevue’s location near the Manhattan VA Medical Center makes it better suited for veteran transitional housing, while Borden Avenue’s industrial Long Island City location is more appropriate for emergency intake operations because of easier emergency access and fewer nearby residential concerns.
The proposal would also expand accommodations for women veterans and veterans with children, populations advocates say are underserved in the current shelter system.
Pena frequently compares the proposal to successful veteran-focused transitional programs such as MANA House in Phoenix, Arizona, where veterans reportedly received structured intake, housing guidance, transportation assistance, and peer support.
By contrast, reports from Borden Avenue describe a chaotic shelter environment where veterans on paths toward permanent housing are housed alongside residents suffering severe mental illness and addiction issues. One firsthand account described the facility as “an environment of despair.”
Pena says separating intake operations from long-term veteran transitional housing would improve safety, accountability, and housing outcomes for homeless veterans across New York City. Veterans have earned a safe, sober environment in which to transition from homelessness, incarceration, and active duty. A facility such as Bellevue would support that. Read more about the proposal HERE:
