Westhab opens 130-bed men's rapid rehousing shelter in North Riverdale

What happened

Westhab, a nonprofit homeless services provider, has opened the Van Cortlandt Men's Rapid Rehousing Center at 262nd Street and Broadway in North Riverdale, the Bronx. The newly built facility has 130 beds and sits along the Bronx-Yonkers border. The Bronx Times reported the story on Oct. 22.

The official opening was celebrated on Friday, Sept. 25, with a ribbon cutting. Representatives from the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and the Department of Social Services (DSS) attended, along with community partners. Westhab president and CEO Rich Nightingale said the center will help people stabilize, connect with resources and move toward permanent housing.

The plan drew skepticism and opposition from some community groups and residents before it opened. One North Riverdale resident asked how Westhab will monitor criminal backgrounds and enforce curfews and loitering rules. A Westhab spokesperson said the center will have 24/7 staff and security, plus Westhab patrol cars on nearby streets. No loitering will be allowed in front of the building. Residents will get an open-air space on one of the floors for outdoor time. The spokesperson said Westhab has been in contact with Council Member Jeffrey Dinowitz's office, the Van Cortlandt Park Alliance and the Riverdale Main Streets Alliance.

The spokesperson said the center will offer employment counseling. Candidates are screened to decide if they are a good fit for the facility. The average stay at a Westhab facility for a single adult is six months to one year. The spokesperson said the goal is to move people out "in the quickest but best possible way."