City Plans 165-Bed Shelter Two Blocks from Maspeth Nightclubs

Residents and business owners near Flushing Avenue in Maspeth will share the two-block corridor with a new 165-bed shelter for single adult men. The Department of Social Services (DSS) confirmed the location to local leaders on Monday, placing the facility directly opposite the Knockdown Center and Basement nightclubs.

The proposal marks the first Queens location for Lantern Community Services, a nonprofit founded in 1996. The organization currently manages 524 shelter beds and approximately 1,500 supportive and affordable housing units across 20 sites in Brooklyn, Manhattan, and the Bronx. Neither Lantern nor the DSS responded to requests for comment by press time.

Council Member Phil Wong, who represents the area, stated that his office learned of the plan only recently. In a statement, Wong expressed serious concerns about the site selection and its potential effects on the neighborhood. He noted that local businesses and residents are already managing existing quality-of-life issues. Wong added that adding a large shelter without a full understanding of those impacts raises legitimate questions.

Tensions over shelter placement in Maspeth have persisted for years. In early 2024, local officials learned that the Maspeth Jewish Center planned to host a 15-bed shelter for asylum seekers. A small group of residents rallied against the move that March. Former Council Member Robert Holden, Wong’s predecessor, called the plan completely unacceptable. The shelter operated for more than a year before closing in June 2025 as part of a citywide campaign to decommission emergency migrant shelters. The current administration aims to close all remaining migrant sites by the end of 2026.

Despite the reduction in migrant shelters, the demand for homeless housing has increased. The DSS funded 499 locations citywide as of September 2026, up from 333 in 2022. During that period, the daily shelter population doubled to roughly 83,000 people. Queens hosts 113 sites, ranking third behind Brooklyn, which has 153, and the Bronx, which has 136. Manhattan and Staten Island have 90 and 7 sites, respectively.

Public records indicate the closest current homeless shelter is the 200-bed Barbara Kleiman Residence in East Williamsburg. That facility was the result of a long dispute between residents and officials, who initially proposed 1,150 beds before locals staged a 40-night vigil to reduce the plan.

The DSS has scheduled two additional openings in Queens. A 200-bed single adult shelter is planned for 24-30 Brooklyn Queens Expressway West in Woodside, and a 250-unit family shelter is set for 9-16 27th Avenue in Astoria.

Wong said he will request meetings with the DSS and Lantern to review the proposal. He intends to examine security, operations, and the rationale for choosing the Flushing Avenue location. A public information session is expected to occur, though no date has been announced.