Hearing on Veterans Homelessness in New York City (10/21/2026)

The New York City Council’s joint Committee on Veterans and Committee on General Welfare held an oversight hearing on veteran homelessness on October 21, 2026, focusing on shelter capacity, services, and conditions at the Borden Avenue Veterans Residence (BAVR). The Department of Homeless Services said it declined a new federal Grant and Per Diem award that would have provided up to $1.3 million for 44 beds, down from up to $4 million for 154 beds, citing grant terms it said conflicted with state and local nondiscrimination laws. The city said it is covering the shelter’s full operating cost and working to fill available beds. Officials reported 173 veterans moved into housing in FY25 and 141 in FY26. No contract award or spending vote was recorded. Council members requested a written update within 30 days on shelter-capacity planning, nonprofit ownership, and barriers to new safe-haven and drop-in projects, as well as legal analysis of the city’s decision not to accept the grant and additional housing-retention data.

Capital work at BAVR includes a $4.3 million roof and skylight replacement, expected to begin in June 2027 and continue through December 2029, and a $2.9 million flood wall project planned for construction from December 2027 to December 2028; federal resiliency funding covers 75% of the flood-wall cost, with the remainder from DHS capital funds. Seven sleeping areas were reported offline because of roof leaks, and ICL said it expects to install shower privacy partitions within six to eight weeks. DHS and ICL are also beginning discussions about food-service changes that may require procurement, including better use of the commercial kitchen. Other legislation discussed included a severe-weather response bill and proposals concerning a disabled-veteran property-tax exemption, VA-backed co-op purchases, and veteran-organization awareness; the hearing did not record votes on these measures.