New York, NY, Nov 19:
Mayor Adams announced two policy updates to support asylum seekers in New York City. Families with children in kindergarten through sixth grade will be allowed to remain in their current shelter after receiving their second 60-day notice, providing additional time in the system to help children continue attending their current schools.
The city will also create a centralized mailing center to ensure asylum seekers can receive critical information, such as updates on their asylum applications, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), or work authorization applications. This service will be available citywide, even for those who have left the shelter system.
Murad Awawdeh, President and CEO, New York Immigration Coalition:
“We commend Mayor Adams and his administration for finally listening to advocates and immigrant New Yorkers by issuing the new rules for shelter residents, which will ensure the educational and emotional stability of children living in shelters. Additionally, establishing a centralized mail center will finally provide asylum seekers with access to critical legal updates and correspondence as their residence changes, empowering them to navigate their cases more effectively and streamline their path toward self-sufficiency. Nonetheless, these rules underscore the urgent need for long-term solutions to address the ongoing challenges new arrivals living in shelters face. We urge the City to build on these efforts by investing in stable, affordable housing as a better, more cost-effective approach than emergency shelters, and to end unnecessary shelter evictions for anyone who needs a place to sleep as they transition to more stable lives as New Yorkers.”
TheNew York Immigration Coalition (NYIC) is an umbrella policy & advocacy organization that represents over 200 immigrant and refugee rights groups throughout New York. The NYIC serves one of the largest and most diverse newcomer populations in the United States. The multi-racial and multi-sector NYIC membership base includes grassroots and nonprofit community organizations, religious and academic institutions, labor unions, as well as legal and socioeconomic justice organizations. The NYIC not only establishes a forum for immigrant groups to voice their concerns, but also provides a platform for collective action to drive positive social change. Since its founding in 1987, the NYIC has evolved into a powerful voice of advocacy by spearheading innovative policies, promoting and protecting the rights of immigrant communities, improving newcomer access to services, developing leadership and capacity, expanding civic participation, and mobilizing member groups to respond to the fluctuating needs of immigrant communities.
