Resources for Refugees
NYC: Asylum Seeker 24/7 Arrival Center
The Roosevelt Hotel 45 E 45th St, New York, NY, 10017
In July of 2023, New York City opened a new 24/7 arrival center for asylum seekers, in the Roosevelt Hotel in midtown. The Roosevelt, which occupies an entire city block on East 45th Street, is an iconic New York City landmark. Having opened in 1924 and after nearly 100 years of operation, it closed during COVID.
​
Now, it is serving as a first port-of-call for asylum seekers and refugees arriving in New York City. The center will offer accommodation, healthcare services including mental health counseling, referrals and insurance enrollment, school enrollment, and more.
​
However, despite its 850 rooms (and an additional 11 Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Centers serving the five boroughs), the Roosevelt reached capacity within a few weeks. By August of 2023, a line of migrants waiting for services, and sleeping on the streets in the meantime, extended around the block of the hotel.
​
More than 90,000 migrants have arrived in New York City since the spring of 2022, with more arriving every day. Because of the volume, and in a departure from its long-held status as a sanctuary city (a place that guarantees a right to shelter), the city has now begun discouraging asylum seekers from seeking refuge here, distributing fliers at the southern border that warn migrants there is “no guarantee” they will receive shelter or services.
More information about the center can be found here.
Other Resources:
Camba
CAMBA offers a multitude of programs to help individuals and families in NYC, such as employment training, after school programs, and college access.
NY Nice
NY NICE provides services and resources for immigrants to prevent worker exploitation, including skills training, worker rights education and support, and workforce development.
Team TLC NYC
Team TLC NYC assists Asylum seekers and migrants based in NYC with resources such as a donation-based store called The Little Shop of Kindness.
International Rescue Committee
International Rescue Committee NYC ensures that refugees thrive in America, and provides support for children enrolling in school and employment services for immediate assistance.
Commonpoint Queens
Commonpoint Queens offers a range of programs for refugees from sports lessons for younger kids and cultural arts programs, to digital food pantries and developmental disabilities programs.
We Speak NYC
We Speak NYC is the Mayor's Office of Immigrant Affairs' English Language Learning program. We Speak NYC provides free, civic-focused learning tools for English language learners. Watch, learn, and practice online, or join and online or in-person class. You can also use the site to learn learn about the free city services available to you.