A pilot program in New York City was recently implemented to assist migrant families in moving out of the city’s overcrowded shelter system. The program, known as the Asylee Moveout Assistance pilot program, provided up to $4,000 to 150 migrant families to help them find their own accommodations. The goal of the program was to free up space in the shelter system, which currently houses over 65,000 asylum seekers. The city Department of Social Services confirmed that the program has been successful in helping families transition to independent living.
The one-time grants provided through the program are distributed by city-contracted agencies and are specifically targeted towards migrant families with pregnant women who have already secured housing. The grants are not given directly to the migrants, but are instead used to cover expenses related to moving, such as rent, moving companies, and household supplies. Only one out of the 150 families who received assistance through the program has returned to the shelter system, indicating its effectiveness in helping families establish stable living situations.
In an effort to ensure transparency and accountability, the program requires the 12 nonprofits involved to track the distribution of funds and provide receipts for expenses. The pilot program is part of the city’s larger efforts to address the ongoing migrant crisis, which has seen over 210,000 asylum seekers arrive in the city since the spring of 2022. City Hall officials revealed that over $5 billion in taxpayer funds has been spent on providing shelter for migrants, with thousands still residing in shelters.
The overwhelming number of asylum seekers has led to the creation of temporary facilities, such as tent cities at Randall’s Island and Floyd Bennett Field, which have faced opposition from local residents. The Asylee Moveout Assistance pilot program is seen as a more cost-effective alternative to managing the crisis, with city officials expressing hope that more families will be able to transition out of shelters with the program’s assistance. The success of the pilot program will be assessed to determine the feasibility of scaling it up to assist more households in the future.
