Parents outraged as city plans to open homeless shelter next to Manhattan elementary school

The New York Post reported that the homeless shelter, equipped with 106 beds, is set to be situated right next to the Peck Slip School, just five feet away from the school's doors. Community board members and local officials were notified about the decision on June 13.

The city Department of Social Services (DSS) unveiled a blueprint that would convert a former Hampton Inn located at 320 Pearl St. into a "low-barrier" homeless facility, meaning criminal records and sobriety requirements could be lifted. The shelter is scheduled to open in the fall when school returns to session.

"They seem to want to push this through when no one is around. We recognize that many neighborhoods have shelters - but not attached to a school," an outraged parent told the outlet.

A parent with a child in pre-school is particularly concerned about the mental health issues of transients roaming the Big Apple. "There's so many homeless people suffering from mental illness, and sometimes those people who are mentally ill can be aggressive," the parent said. "So, having a shelter occupy the same space as a public school raises concerns."

Another parent couldn't comprehend why the city didn't pick one of the many empty NYC buildings to house the homeless folk. The shelter will be just 55 feet away from the school's unfenced recess area.

"There's so many empty hotels, so many empty buildings, empty things that you could find somewhere else for this to go," said a concerned father with a child in pre-K. The shelter will be run by the nonprofit Breaking Ground.

Nicholas Jacobelli, a DSS spokesperson, said Friday that the nonprofit would provide 24/7 onsite security equipped with cameras and guards, "We remain committed to maintaining open lines of communication with the community, working collaboratively to support our vulnerable neighbors, and addressing any concerns as they arise.”