Mayor Mamdani and DSS Announce New Single-Room Shelter Units in Upper Manhattan for Homeless New Yorkers

New York, NY – TODAY, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani and the New York City Department of Social Services Commissioner Molly Park announced an emergency expansion of single-room-occupancy style shelter units in Upper Manhattan, which will be available beginning tomorrow for New Yorkers experiencing unsheltered homelessness, who are better served by these settings.

The new units are designed to reach people who are reluctant to come indoors because they do not want to share rooms or are skeptical of other shelter options.

"As a dangerous cold persists, my administration is working around the clock to keep New Yorkers safe. By making new single-room units available, we are meeting people where they are and removing barriers that keep too many New Yorkers out in the cold," said Mayor Mamdani. "Across our city, dedicated public servants are clearing crosswalks and bus stops, melting down snow ridges, spreading salt and conducting relentless outreach to bring people indoors. As this critical work continues, I urge all New Yorkers who can to stay indoors, look out for your neighbors, and call 311 if you see someone who needs help."

Protecting New Yorkers During Extreme Cold

As freezing temperatures continue, the Mamdani administration is deploying every available resource and introducing new ones to keep New Yorkers warm, safe and indoors. Since Jan. 19, intensified outreach efforts have resulted in more than 860 placements for homeless New Yorkers.

Information on warming center and available space can be found here on 311.

In addition to new single room shelter units announced today, the city has taken the following actions during the current cold weather emergency:

• Under Code Blue protocols, outreach teams have expanded canvassing across all five boroughs to connect vulnerable New Yorkers with shelter, Safe Havens, drop-in centers, and warming buses. Intake procedures are relaxed during Cold Blue so anyone can come inside immediately. 
• Through NYC Health and Hospital's mobile outreach program, the City has deployed a fleet of 20 overnight mobile warming units that provide cold weather relief, medical care, and access to warming centers, hospitals, or shelters as needed. Mobile warming units are operating nightly from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for the duration of Code Blue.
• As part of an all-hands response, the city has expanded warming bus capacity and strengthened coordination across agencies, including:
• Deployment of 20 warming buses near hospitals, drop-in centers, and subway stations;
• Enhanced warming centers at 11 NYC Health + Hospitals hospital facilities and seven Gotham Health community health centers across all boroughs;
• Outreach by adult mental health providers to all clients, with priority for those who are homeless or medically vulnerable;
• Overtime authorization for outreach staff and contractors; and
• Coordinated messaging to shelter providers, faith organizations and hospitals to help bring people indoors.
• City agencies have aligned public messaging on warming buses, warming center, and homeless outreach services. Notify NYC has issued multiple alerts in 13 languages, including ASL, reaching nearly 1.5 million New Yorkers. Information has been distributed to all 43 active Strengthening Community partners and shared with approximately 8,000 nonprofit partners through the Community Preparedness Newsletter. NYC Emergency Management (NYCEM) has also transmitted this guidance to every elected official in the city.
• Additional outreach has reached more than 2,000 service providers through the NYC Advance Warning System, which supports organizations serving people with disabilities and others with access and functional needs.
• NYCEM continues to convene daily interagency coordination calls through the Winter Weather Emergency Steering Committee, with participation from approximately 35 agencies to align logistics, staffing, locations and outreach.
• Mayor Mamdani has also released multiple public service announcements urging New Yorkers to stay safe during extreme weather:
• PSA #1
• PSA #2
• PSA #3

Snow and Ice Removal Updates

The Mamdani administration continues to expand snow and ice removal efforts citywide. Mayor Mamdani recently announced more than 2,500 Department of Sanitation workers are deployed per shift, supported by 385 additional city workers, 640 contractors and 530 emergency snow shovelers.

As of today, crews have cleared more than 24,649 crosswalks, 6,947 fire hydrants and 14,831 bus stops. The city has spread 188 million pounds of salt and melted 67 million pounds of snow, up from 23 million yesterday.

These numbers will continue to rise as cleanup continues. New Yorkers are encouraged to stay safe indoors when possible, and to report uncleared crosswalks, sidewalks, medians, roads, bus shelters or fire hydrants by calling 311.