New Intake Center for Homeless Opens in the Bronx

A new $65.5 million homeless intake center has opened on 151st Street in the Bronx on the site of the infamous Emergency Assistance Unit, which was known for its inhumane conditions and was torn down in 2006.

At a ribbon cutting for the new facility Wednesday, Bronx City Council member Annabel Palma became emotional as she recalled how she had gone to the old facility seeking shelter 15 years ago but ended up leaving because of the conditions. 

"When people walk into a place looking for help they don't want to be dehumanized and the old building did that to people like myself and people in the community," Palma said.

The seven-story facility includes child-friendly waiting rooms, storage for personal belongings and electronic signs that keep track of who has been served. 

After the old facility was torn down, the city started conducting intake for homeless families at a nearby building on Powers Avenue. The Department of Homeless Services said that site is now being used as extra office space

Gail Nayowith, a former child advocate and the current director of SCO Services, said the city deserved credit for pushing forward with the new building despite the recent recession. Nayowith was part of a panel of experts advising the city on how to improve the intake process for homeless families. 

But homeless advocates say despite the new setting, too many families seeking shelter get turned away and must apply more than once before being allowed to stay. According to the Coalition for the Homeless, the number of families found ineligible for shelter increased by 16 percent in 2010 compared to the prior year and by 76 percent compared to four years ago.

The city said that's because it's doing a better job of finding people alternatives to shelter such as mediating family disputes so people can return to live with relatives or friends or providing families with help to challenge evictions.

As of May 6, there were 36,756 people in city shelters — more than 25,000 were families with children.