Staten Island Reporter

(BROOKLYN, NY) - Congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis (NY-11) criticized the City's plan for a new homeless shelter in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, designed to accommodate 150 homeless men, including individuals with mental health challenges. Malliotakis expressed her concerns, stating, "When it comes to building more affordable, permanent housing units, New York City and State leaders have been all talk, no action. Instead of building permanent solutions to the housing crisis, the City has resorted to warehousing people in shelters that offer no transitional resources to get their lives back on track."

The Congresswoman further emphasized the potential negative impact of the proposed shelter's location, saying, "Placing a homeless shelter in Bensonhurst just blocks away from six different schools is not only unfair and unsafe for the surrounding community but also demonstrates a lack of leadership when the federal government has taken action to increase opportunities for cities to build more affordable housing units."

Reflecting on recent legislative developments, Malliotakis highlighted the House's bipartisan efforts to expand and strengthen tax policies benefiting middle-class Americans, specifically mentioning the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit. She noted, "The provisions included in our tax package are expected to result in the creation of more than 200,000 units of housing, something the City could take advantage of, particularly as it looks to convert more commercial office space into permanent housing units."

In conclusion, Malliotakis urged the Senate to swiftly consider the House's legislation to provide New York City with the necessary resources to offer stable and affordable housing options for low-income residents.