PEOPLE SAYING THEY NOW FEEL SO
UNSAFE, THEY’RE GOING TO LEAVE
THE CITY ALTOGETHER.
LATE THIS SPRING, SHOCKING
HEADLINES AND PHOTOS.
A MANHATTAN NEIGHBORHOOD OVERRUN
WITH AN INCREASE IN HOMELESS MEN
AND WOMEN.
RESIDENTS SOUNDING THE ALARM.
>> WHAT WE REALLY NOTICE IS THE
INCREASE IN THESE SORT OF
INCIDENTS.
OPEN AND ILLICIT DRUG USE,
NEEDLES ON THE GROUND.
THINGS I COULD NOT HAVE EVER
IMAGINED WOULD HAVE OCCURRED.
JUST EVEN A FEW WEEKS AGO.
>> ON THE UPPER WEST SIDE, FOUR
VACANT TOURIST HOTELS WERE
CONVERTED TO TEMPORARY HOMELESS
SHELTERS.
RESIDENTS MOVING IN.
ALL PART OF A CITYWIDE EFFORT TO
STOP DEVASTATING CORONAVIRUS
SPREAD IN A VULNERABLE
POPULATION.
DURING A VIRTUAL COMMUNITY BOARD
MEETING, SHELTER LEADERS
EXPLAINED THEY HAD TO MOVE FAST.
>> NORMALLY IT TAKES ABOUT TWO
YEARS OR MORE TO CREATE A
SHELTER.
WE HAD ABOUT TWO WEEKS’ NOTICE
FOR EACH HOTEL WE OPENED.
>> THAT MEANT IN SOME CASES
FACILITIES WEREN’T READY OR
IMPORTANT DETAILS OVERLOOKED.
LIKE SEX OFFENDERS WITH
RESIDENCY RESTRICTIONS PLACED AT
THE BELL CLAIRE.
DR. MEGAN MARTIN STARTED A GROUP
OF CONCERNED NEIGHBORS PUSHING
TO END THE PROGRAM THREATENING
TO FILE A LAWSUIT IF THE CITY
DOESN’T ACT.
THE CITY WAS IN EMERGENCY
SITUATION.
THESE SHELTERS WERE INCREDIBLY
DANGEROUS.
THEY HAD TO ACT QUICKLY.
WHY WAS THIS NOT AN APPROPRIATE
SOLUTION?
>> WE REPLACED ONE PUBLIC HEALTH
CRISIS WITH ANOTHER.
THEY’VE MOVED MANY OF THESE
INDIVIDUALS WITHOUT THE
RESOURCES THAT THEY NEED.
>> Reporter: BUT AS THE FIRE
STORM GREW, THOSE WHO SUPPORT
THE SHELTERS ALSO TOOK ACTION.
SOME SUGGESTS THEIR NEIGHBORS
WERE INSENSITIVE OR INTOLERANT.
>> I HAVE NOT SEEN ANY KIND OF
DANGER OR ANY KIND OF
DETERIORATION OF QUALITY LIFE.
AND I WALK PAST THE BELL CLAIRE
EVERY SINGLE MORNING.
>> Reporter: COLLEGE PROFESSOR
MELISSA SANCHEZ ORGANIZED
FAMILIES TO DRAW WELCOMING SIGNS
TO PEOPLE.
ENDING WITH THIS ANGRY
GRANDMOTHER PASSING BY.
>> THIS IS ABSURD ESPECIALLY
WHEN WE HAVE CHILDREN.
>> Reporter: ARE YOU SURPRISED
PERSONALLY SOMEONE WHO LIVES IN
THIS COMMUNITY TO SEE HOW ANGRY
PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN AND HOW
FRAUGHT THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN?
>> I’M REALLY SURPRISED.
WE KNOW THAT PEOPLE HERE ARE
GETTING TREATMENT.
THE SUCCESSFUL TREATMENT IS
SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY.
>> EVERYONE NEEDS A HOME.
WHEN I SAW THAT, THAT REALLY
TOUCHED ME.
>> Reporter: BUT WHILE ANGER
FLAIRED ON BOTH SIDES, MAJOR
CRIME RATES ACTUALLY FELL.
OVERALL CRIME RATES IN THE AREA
ARE DOWN OVER 5%.
UNDER PRESSURE MAYOR BILL de
BLASIO -- BUT FOR SOME, IT MAY
BE TOO LATE.
>> YOU KNOW, MANY FAMILIES WHO
DO NOT FEEL SAFE.
>> Reporter: CONTRIBUTING TO A
WAVE OF PEOPLE LEAVING NETWORK
OPERA SINGER CHERYL WARFIELD MAY
BE ONE OF THEM.
ARE YOU GOING TO STAY?
>> I MAY NOT.
AFTER 9/11, MY FAMILY EXPECTED
ME TO MOVE BACK HOME.
>> Reporter: BUT YOU STAYED.
>> BUT I STAYED.
BUT I MAY NOT BE ABLE TO STAY
THROUGH THIS.
>> Reporter: THE DEPARTMENT OF
HOMELESS SERVICES IN THIS CITY
SAYS THIS PROGRAM HAS SAVED
LIVES.
WHILE THERE WERE MISSTEPS IN THE