Van Cortlandt Rapid Rehousing Center opens after three years, welcoming up to 130 men

Van Cortlandt Rapid Rehousing Center, a men’s transitional housing shelter on West 262nd Street and Broadway that will house up to 130 clients, is open and accepting clients after three years in the making.

The news was announced by Westhab, the New York City and Westchester-based nonprofit that runs the site, at a Sept. 25 ceremony attended by staff, real estate and architectural partners, Westhab board members, and Bronx Community Board 8 members, among others. Dozens gathered in the shelter’s dining room as speakers lauded combined efforts, and emphasized Westhab’s willingness to be a good neighbor and part of the community.

The shelter will provide job training, counseling, mental health services and life-skills workshops. Staff will also help connect clients with healthcare, substance abuse treatment and resources to help them earn their GED.

Westhab President and CEO Richard Nightingale told The Press ahead of ceremony remarks Westhab was eager to accept its first clients at the site and start serving New Yorkers.

“We’re really proud of the work we do,” Nightingale said. “We can’t wait to show the community that, and we’ll be as communicative as possible.”

David Quart, a Riverdale Main Streets Alliance board member, said at the ceremony the alliance was looking forward to continuing a positive relationship with Westhab.

Riverdale Main Streets Alliance is a network of volunteer community members and civic organizations that beautify Riverdale streets and aim to grow the neighborhood economically.

“Being a strong neighbor also means welcoming institutions and partners that are committed to doing their work well and being a part of the community in a constructive way,” Quart said. “And I’m seeing that here.”

Westhab and architects followed a purpose-built shelter model, meaning the space is designed to serve those experiencing homelessness. Nightingale told The Press in July reducing homelessness starts with a dignified shelter system. He said again at the ceremony that the better the environment Westhab creates, the better the building’s culture is, and the more motivated clients will be to move on to permanent housing and employment.

Amenities include a dining room with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking Van Cortlandt Park, a recreation room with foosball, air hockey and ping-pong tables, a computer room, a library and several other multipurpose rooms. There is also an outdoor terrace on the rooftop with picnic tables and greenery.

There is also 24/7 security and Westhab doesn’t allow people to congregate or loiter in front of its buildings, according to the nonprofit.

Westhab and the city’s department of social services are also building a community advisory board, which is a group of residents and neighborhood leaders that will meet periodically to provide feedback on the shelter. A few Bronx Community Board 8 members included on this board are district manager Farrah Rubin, vice chair Bob Bender, public safety committee member Debra Harris and public safety committee vice chair Laura Spalter.

Community members have voiced opposition to the shelter since it was proposed in 2021 by a different nonprofit, citing public safety concerns. Specifically, concerns arose around the screening process for clients.

Westhab bought the site in December 2023 for $4.75 million, and community discussions about the shelter were renewed several times this year as its completion date neared.

After reports in recent months of incidents near the park’s northern edge, including police reports of the sexual assault of a 13-year-old girl in June, residents worried an influx of single men at the shelter could lead to an increase in crime.

Nightingale disagreed with this belief when speaking to The Press in July, explaining that in an average Westhab shelter, half of the residents are employed and just unable to keep up with the cost of living. Clients with severe mental illnesses — defined by the city as a depression, schizophrenia or bipolar diagnosis that substantially interferes with major life activities — would go to a specialized mental health shelter, not Westhab, he said.

A spokesperson for the city’s department of social services told The Press placements are determined based on the needs of the individual. In accordance with the city’s right to shelter mandate, no one is denied housing, but the department complies with the state’s laws for residency restrictions.

Homelessness shouldn’t be conflated with criminality, the spokesperson said, and the department hopes the community will see this shelter not as a potential danger, but as a place for neighbors to get back on their feet. The department serves mostly New Yorkers who are just in a tough spot and need a temporary place to stay, the spokesperson said.

Despite the contentious history between the community and the idea of a men’s shelter, Bronx Community Board 8 members on the community advisory board were cautiously optimistic at the opening ceremony.

Bender said he wants the shelter to be a success, and he believes it’s good for the community and for the clients who are able to obtain permanent housing.

After touring the building and talking with Westhab, Rubin said, the board members were encouraged to know the nonprofit wants to be an asset to the community. She said she and others are planning to work with Westhab in fulfilling that goal.

Maintaining communication with residents to address any issues that may arise will be key, Spalter said.

“I see our role as liaison to the community,” Spalter said. “I’m hoping for the best. Time will tell.”