New York City Department of Homeless Services
The situation in New York City's shelters starkly contrasts with support services available in other regions, where veterans receive more empathetic care, community engagement, and assistance. For example, shelters in some areas of the country provide nutritious meals, donations, and a sense of community. In New York City, however, reports from veterans point to the diversion of these donated goods, including clothing, hygiene products, and even Girl Scout cookies, for personal use by shelter staff rather than the veterans who need them.
At shelters like Borden Avenue Veterans’ Residence, veterans face not only a lack of support but also instances of criminal behavior by staff members. The failure of DHS to ensure effective oversight or adequate resources has led to an environment where veterans often suffer from neglect and mistreatment.
The problem extends beyond mismanagement and the lack of essential resources—it’s also a systemic issue rooted in a culture of negligence. Some shelter agencies appear more concerned with financial gain than with providing meaningful support for veterans. This failure is compounded by policies that restrict access to services, trapping veterans in a vicious cycle of neglect and dependence on a broken system.
In light of these ongoing struggles, veterans and advocates are calling for major reforms. They demand that organizations like the DHS and ICL be held accountable for their failures, and they urge the introduction of new oversight measures. The incoming administration offers a glimmer of hope, with veterans’ rights advocates hoping that funding and policies will shift to better meet the needs of those who have served the country.
