Vernikov, Yeger, Sutton to Protest Conversion of Emmons Avenue Shelter

BROOKLYN, NY | July 14, 2026 — New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov (R-48th District), joined by Assemblyman Kalman Yeger (D-41st AD) and Senator Sam Sutton (D-22nd SD), will hold a press conference this Thursday, July 16th, at 6:00 PM outside the 3218 Emmons Avenue Homeless Shelter to protest its planned conversion from a family shelter into a single-adult male shelter.

Members of the public, particularly residents of Sheepshead Bay and the surrounding communities, are invited to join a protest against the planned transfer of 55 families with children from the shelter at 3218 Emmons Avenue and their replacement with 110 single and unvetted adult men.

Local elected officials got wind of this plan and immediately jumped into action, contacting agencies with their concerns.

"We ask that you immediately cancel plans to transfer out families with children who have formed significant ties to the community to make room for one hundred and ten unvetted single adult males," Vernikov wrote in a letter to the NYC Department of Social Services, copied to the Department of Homeless Services and co-signed by Yeger and Sutton.

“Not only is it inhumane and inconsiderate to transfer out these families who integrated into Sheepshead Bay, but this will be devastating for the surrounding neighborhood and community,” the letter continued.

Displacing the families with children currently residing at the site would be disruptive to parents who have secured steady employment and children enrolled in local schools. Bringing 110 unvetted single adult men into this site may introduce a host of issues, such as drug use, public indecency, and theft into the neighborhood and community.

The current DSS and DHS protocols lack vetting to make this transfer suitable for a location across from a children’s playground, as their policy does not turn away individuals with criminal offenses and expects sex offenders to self-identify.

Officials are also outraged with the decision to partner with BHRAGS, as its senior executives currently face federal indictment charges for the embezzlement of over $1 million as well as bribery. These allegations “raise significant questions about the provider's fitness to operate a taxpayer-funded shelter,” according to Vernikov in her letter to NYC Comptroller Mark Levine, which was also co-signed by Yeger and Sutton.

The press conference will take place Thursday, July 16th at 6:00 PM outside the 3218 Emmons Avenue site.