Homeless Gone From Westway Motel

Vallone said that DHS officials feel the more transient population resulting from the change, which will mostly be families with young children, will be less of a burden on the surrounding community than longer-term homeless residents. Responding to complaints made by City Councilmember Peter Vallone Jr. on behalf of his constituents, the Westway Motor Inn in Astoria will no longer be used as a longterm homeless family shelter. Instead, it has been converted into an overnight intake facility for families seeking a permanent shelter.

Vallone said last week that after his office had corresponded with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) numerous times, the agency had relocated all the homeless families that were living at the Westway as of the beginning of September.

"Currently,"Vallone explained, "DHS uses the venue for families that have come to a shelter intake center after 5 p.m., at which time they cannot be officially processed, but are entitled to housing.

"These families are transported to the Westway [at 71-11 Astoria Blvd.] via vans or buses, where they spend the night, and leave the next morning to finish their processing and to move to another location."

Vallone and DHS officials, who negotiated the change, believe it will greatly reduce the problems created by the Westway's use as a homeless family facility that have bothered the surrounding residential community.

Vallone said that DHS officials feel the more transient population resulting from the change, which will mostly be families with young children, will be less of a burden on the surrounding community than longerterm homeless residents.

"I am confident that this change in policy will have a positive impact on the quality of life issues raised by you and the residents from the community," DHS Commissioner Robert Hess said in a letter to Vallone.

"We need to be responsible for our homeless, but not at the expense of homeowners," Vallone (D- Astoria) stated. "This agreement with DHS finds a respectable compromise that hopefully will end many of the complaints that have plagued this area while allowing the city to perform a vital service."

Prior to the change in use of the motel, located just off the Grand Central Parkway, Vallone was in constant contact with the 114th Police Precinct in Astoria and the DHS to minimize the impact of the Westway on the community.

Vallone said he had suggested hiring a security guard and putting extra police patrols near the motel, which is located in an area of two-family homes with few commercial stores. As many as 37 homeless families at one time resided at the Westway, but now officials say the number of people who stay at the motel will be far less.

Vallone said the Westway is privately owned, but DHS, the Red Cross and community groups had used it to shelter large groups of displaced individuals. In recent years, however, the homeless residents have established a more permanent presence, and some residents have committed petty crimes or panhandled in the neighborhood, leading to community concerns.