In Brooklyn's Canarsie neighborhood, parents are expressing their outrage over the planned construction of a 200-bed men's homeless shelter just one block from the Science and Medicine Middle School 366. The shelter, set to open in 2028 on East 108th Street, has sparked significant concern among local residents, who gathered for a protest on Monday night to voice their objections to the project. The protests are directed not only at the city officials but also specifically at Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who has yet to address the community's fears directly.

City Council member Mercedes Narcisse, who represents the 46th District, was among the demonstrators and criticized the New York City Department of Social Services (DSS) for their lack of communication regarding the shelter's plans. Narcisse stated, "You want to put it next to a school — a middle school for God’s sake! These are our children! Shame!" She revealed that she was only informed about the shelter last week and had not been consulted despite her position as a local representative. Narcisse has requested a meeting with the DSS commissioner to discuss these concerns, but many protesters are insisting that Mayor Mamdani should also participate in the discussions.S2

The planned shelter is part of a broader initiative by the city to open 12 new shelters, with three located in Brooklyn. The DSS has acknowledged the need for community engagement in the process, stating that notifying elected officials and community boards is a preliminary step in the public process surrounding new shelter sites. However, residents have expressed frustration over what they perceive as insufficient opportunities for community input, particularly in light of past incidents where the city relocated homeless individuals without conducting proper background checks, raising safety concerns among local families.S2