Monroe County Executive Adam Bello has issued an emergency order in response to migrants coming from New York City in search of asylum.
The order prevents hotels, motels, shelters or any other multiple-dwelling unit from making contracts with other municipalities to provide housing for more than 10 people, unless an Emergency Housing Plan is submitted to the Monroe County Department of Human Services and receives approval.
“Monroe County welcomes people from all over the world,” Bello said in a statement. “This Emergency Order does not prevent migrants from coming to Monroe County while they await resolution of their legal asylum application. Rather, it ensures that if migrants need to be housed here, it is done so in a thoughtful way with a reasonable plan in place to protect everyone involved.”
A number of upstate counties have already indicated they are not welcoming the migrant population, declaring states of emergency. Those county leaders say they don't have the resources or space to assist.
Bello says the county is among the areas of the state and country facing a housing crisis, and says that there is a shortage of emergency housing available to support those experiencing homelessness.
Hochul last week said her administration was working with New York City Mayor Eric Adams to identify “welcoming” sites for migrants housing across the state.
The governor said the state was looking at sites including campuses and “shuttered psychiatric facilities” as possible housing options.
According to a source, Gov. Kathy Hochul's administration has identified dorms on three SUNY campuses to use as housing sites for migrants. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz confirmed on Tuesday that an unknown number of migrants seeking asylum will be coming to Erie County from New York City.