The Bentley: A Model Partnership
New York City’s decision in March 2020 to move people experiencing homelessness from group shelters to pandemic-shuttered hotels became a lightning rod of controversy among activists, neighborhood residents, and the individuals experiencing homelessness themselves.
We have proof there’s a better way to integrate people experiencing homelessness into new communities, without encountering local resistance. That’s because we’ve done it successfully ourselves.
When the pandemic first hit, we moved 300 of the 660 residents of our transitional housing to The Bentley Hotel on the Upper East Side, in accordance with City directives to better allow for social distancing. But rather than a vitriolic reaction, the men we serve were welcomed with open arms by the local community. In fact, students and parents at the nearby PS 183 even put together a winter clothing drive for their new neighbors.
“At P.S. 183, our school motto is ‘Take Care of Each Other,’” said Principal Martin Woodard at the time. “This year, more than ever, we are glad to put our motto to use right here in our neighborhood.”
The reasons for this positive reaction were twofold. First, the Men in Blue have long served the Upper East Side; many residents were already familiar with the program and knew its participants were a value-add to the community. Moving trainees to a closer location ensured that we could provide even more frequent service to the area.
Even more important was the deliberate, sustained effort to engage the hotel staff, local residents, and politicians—one unprecedented among our peers.
“The Doe Fund and The Bentley both went above and beyond to keep us informed from day one. There was so much community outreach throughout,” said Judy Schneider of the East Sixties Neighborhood Association.
“We got very few phone calls [from residents] after the first month,” she added. “And the people who called didn’t know about the program; they thought The Doe Fund was just a shelter. Learning about Ready, Willing & Able—that these were hardworking guys taking classes, learning skills, working to build a life and a career and get back on their feet—that was all people needed to know to buy in.”
The Doe Fund worked hand in hand with the staff at The Bentley every step of the way. Crucially, this included integrating The Doe Fund’s case management and Programs teams on location for the men we serve. After the move, residents of The Bentley continued to receive the full suite of supportive services and workforce development training that The Doe Fund provides, with limited interruption.
“Having the support staff there is unquestionably what made it so successful,” said Judy.
“To be honest, it came down to how professional The Doe Fund was,” said Ana Lopez, General Manager at The Bentley Hotel. “The attention to detail and focus from The Doe Fund staff allowed us to have a seamless operation. I felt like I had become part of The Doe Fund family.”
She added, “This is what ensured that the clients got the support they needed, and what put our neighbors in the Upper East Side at ease.”
The Ready, Willing & Able trainees at The Bentley proudly stood as frontline heroes throughout the pandemic, working in cleaning crews to provide enhanced sanitation services in the neighborhood. The Bentley also housed men who graduated from Ready, Willing & Able, but suffered setbacks due to the pandemic. By continuing to provide paid work opportunities and serving as a safety net, we helped people trying desperately to do the right thing from returning to lives of crime, addiction, and homelessness.
“The Doe Fund has provided critical services to the Upper East Side for decades,” said City Council Member Ben Kallos. “When the decision was made to move men in The Doe Fund’s transitional housing to The Bentley, the organization furthered this longstanding positive relationship by engaging myself and other community leaders on everything from the logistics of the move to what it would mean once the men were in the hotel. It’s no wonder why they were embraced by our residents.”
Recently, the City ordered the transfer of people experiencing homelessness from hotels back to group shelters. In compliance with this directive, the men at The Bentley have returned to transitional residences operated by The Doe Fund.
As New York City emerges from the pandemic, many leaders have taken the opportunity to imagine bold new solutions to its longstanding homelessness and housing crises. One of the most popular proposals is converting vacant hotels into permanent affordable and supportive SRO housing.
The Doe Fund has shown that this can not only be done successfully, but in ways that enrich the greater community. We are excited to lead the way implementing this model in neighborhoods throughout the city.
