Governor Kathy Hochul announced an additional $20 million in funding on Monday to aid New York City’s growing asylum seeker crisis.
The new funding comes on top of the $1.5 billion already allocated by the state and aims to enhance efficiency and streamline the asylum process. The funds will also be used to cover the costs of the National Guard, which has been aiding in humanitarian and logistical efforts, including the provision of emergency housing shelters on converted soccer fields.
While Monroe County is already supporting New York City by hosting asylum seekers, local authorities have stated that Holiday Inn remains the only hotel to have applied for emergency shelter, with approval for 72 rooms. The state funding also includes $10 million designated for legal services, which has led to the establishment of the city’s Asylum Application Center. Since its inception, the center has submitted over 1,300 applications for more than 100,000 asylum seekers who have arrived in New York City since last spring.
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