Normalize welcoming shelters

To the editor: 

Laura Spalter vehemently opposed a proposal that the Riverdale Neighborhood House approved for the Northwest Bronx Support Committee for the Homeless which was comprised of representatives of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale, the Riverdale Presbyterian Church, the Riverdale Yonkers Society for Ethical Culture (RYSEC) and the Conservative Synagogue of Riverdale.

The RYSEC shelter worked closely with the 50th precinct to ensure that we operated properly and safely. 

We ultimately opened an emergency overnight shelter at RYSEC and it operated for seventeen years without incident. The shelter was closed because Covid-19 posed too high a risk of infection. Unfortunately, the RYSEC was unable to reopen due to a lack of volunteers.

I think we should work together to come up with a solution to the problem of homelessness in New York City by allowing these programs to move forward.

An example of success for this type of solution has been operating for many years is Bronxworks’ The Brook -- is a transitional housing development that enables homeless individuals work towards employment and housing.

John Benfatti