Temperatures plummeted at a men's homeless shelter on Wards Island this month, causing conditions inside to be more than 20 degrees below freezing – a stark violation of the city's regulations.
The Coalition for the Homeless, which monitors facilities including the Schwartz Assessment Shelter, recorded temperatures in the mid-50s and low 60s since early December. One particularly chilling reading found an interior dorm room temperature as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Department of Homeless Services, which owns the building, the issue lies not with the heating system itself but rather the window units, which are being renovated as part of a larger plan to address the aging infrastructure.
However, Coalition for the Homeless officials say that drafty windows and broken seals allowed cold air to seep in, bringing temperatures down across the facility. "It was unacceptable," said Jamie Powlovich, a senior manager at the organization. "Both clients, staff, and security were complaining – people were wearing winter jackets and accessories inside."
One resident, who remains anonymous for fear of retaliation from shelter staff, described his own makeshift attempts to stay warm. He has been relying on two hoodies, two pairs of sweatpants, and a hat, which even he acknowledged wouldn't be enough.
"It's so cold in here that they haven’t gone spoiled yet," the resident said, pointing to food items stored at the shelter. "And I had them for two weeks already."
The Coalition for the Homeless has called on the city to take action to address these conditions and ensure residents have access to safe and warm living spaces.
The Coalition for the Homeless, which monitors facilities including the Schwartz Assessment Shelter, recorded temperatures in the mid-50s and low 60s since early December. One particularly chilling reading found an interior dorm room temperature as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit.
According to the Department of Homeless Services, which owns the building, the issue lies not with the heating system itself but rather the window units, which are being renovated as part of a larger plan to address the aging infrastructure.
However, Coalition for the Homeless officials say that drafty windows and broken seals allowed cold air to seep in, bringing temperatures down across the facility. "It was unacceptable," said Jamie Powlovich, a senior manager at the organization. "Both clients, staff, and security were complaining – people were wearing winter jackets and accessories inside."
One resident, who remains anonymous for fear of retaliation from shelter staff, described his own makeshift attempts to stay warm. He has been relying on two hoodies, two pairs of sweatpants, and a hat, which even he acknowledged wouldn't be enough.
"It's so cold in here that they haven’t gone spoiled yet," the resident said, pointing to food items stored at the shelter. "And I had them for two weeks already."
The Coalition for the Homeless has called on the city to take action to address these conditions and ensure residents have access to safe and warm living spaces.
this is soooo harsh 
the city's regulations should be taken seriously, especially when it comes to basic human rights like warmth & shelter. I mean, 45 degrees Fahrenheit? that's basically freezing 
how can people survive in such conditions? 
and what's up with the broken seals on those window units? didn't they check them before renovating? 
anyway, it's not just about the physical temperature, it's also about the emotional toll of living in such a cold environment. mental health matters too 
the coalition for the homeless has been saying this for ages, and it's only now that people are feeling the heat (literally) 
according to data from the department of homeless services, there were 1431 homeless individuals in nyc shelters last year, with an average temperature of 52.6 degrees 
a 4-degree drop since last year! 
stats say 70% of homeless people experience cold-related health issues 
this is not just about the shelter on wards island, it's a city-wide problem 
Temperatures dropping that low at a homeless shelter is just heartbreaking. I mean, I know we're always talking about how hard it is for people who are struggling with homelessness, but come on! This is just inhumane. The Coalition for the Homeless is saying the windows were broken and stuff, but like, why isn't anyone doing anything to fix them? It's not like it's gonna break the bank or anything.
gotta make sure our homeless folks are taken care of, its not cool that they have to use extra layers like that even...
they're renovating the heating system which is good but what about all these drafty windows and broken seals? that's just basic maintenance 
. one resident had to get creative with his own warm gear lol, two hoodies and sweatpants... like, i get it but still 
. let's hope the coalition for the homeless can get some traction on this issue 