Asylum seeker families say they are struggling to keep their children adequately fed in the NYC shelters. News 4’s Melissa Russo reports.
After the NBC New York I-Team reported on the urgent problem facing migrant parents regarding food for their babies at New York City shelters, Mayor Eric Adams said he would speak to social services teams about the issue.
But it appears that may not have been the case, according to NYC Comptroller Brad Lander.
He told News 4 his office contacted City Hall to see what they planned to do to address the claims that infant children of asylum seekers were not receiving formula or baby food in the homeless shelters where they have been housed since arriving in the city.
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The comptroller's office said they were "alarmed" when the Adams administration responded to them that they were not investigating anything specific — despite first-hand accounts uncovered by the I-Team of mothers saying their children simply aren't getting enough food.
"City Hall does not seem to be taking seriously the alarming reports of certain shelters failing to meet the basic nutritional needs of infants and children. We have reached out to the administration to express our concern, and are disturbed that City Hall is not investigating these specific reports," Comptroller Lander told NBC New York.
The city replied in a statement, saying "the health and safety of our clients are our top priorities" and that those living in the shelters are regularly getting meals that meet the guidance of health experts.
"These families and individuals are coming to us after a harrowing months-long journey which could result in severe malnourishment, and we are committed to making sure that we are prioritizing their recovery while working with them to help stabilize their lives in a new country. We take any concerns of food shortages at shelter sites very seriously and are committed to investigating any such concerns," the city's statement read.
City Hall said the shelters maintain supplies of food and baby formula, and that families are provided milk for children older than 12 months old.
"We take any concerns of food shortages at shelter sites very seriously and are committed to investigating any such concerns," the city said in the statement. "All DSS-DHS shelter sites provide wrapround supports and essential services, including regular meal services that comply with NYC Food Standards for adults and children."
The I-Team reported on the claims of food shortages at shelters, speaking with multiple families about the hunger hardships they are experiencing in shelters.
“My children are in dire need,” a mother living at a shelter at the Queens Travel Lodge told News 4, crying as she says that the food situation at the shelter has her at the brink of desperation.
The shelter serves small meals, but no baby food or formula. Just one eight-ounce container of milk per baby, per day — unless the milk is expiring, in which case she says they get extra. Her baby boy was is still hungry after the bottle of milk they receive but she said there are no refills at the shelter.
"The food is very restricted,” the mother said.
Residents at the Queens shelter shared a video showing how they're forced to sign for every milk or juice they consume.
"I feel like this is a jail,” a mother said.
When she asked for more, a mother said a shelter employee dictated an answer into her phone so it could be translated into Spanish, which read “we already gave you milk or food because the children eat at their school. I only follow orders so don't bother me anymore."
The I-Team interviewed multiple families at other hotels with similar stories. At the Super 8 in Brooklyn, a woman said the meals were “not enough.” In a midtown shelter, a pregnant mom worried her unborn baby girl isn’t getting enough nutrients because dinner at her shelter is just 230 calories.
“On a daily basis, we see about 75 families that come. They don't have no milk,” said food pantry volunteer Maria Vergara.
At food pantries throughout the city, demand is high and supplies are low.
“The face changes…Like when we give them milk and they drink it in front of us, the face changes,” Vergara said. "It's heart-breaking that the shelters in our city are not providing the essentials for the kids.”
Baby Jimena Mendoza downed milk after milk outside a Manhattan pantry. Her big sister said the baby needs formula and milk, and has been throwing up the shelter food because she's not used to it. The girls’ father said that after a difficult trek from Venezuela, getting to a place like New York and struggling for food is hard.
Another migrant, Maria Plaza, said while they could definitely use more food, she thinks the city is helping migrants a lot. She is grateful for a place to sleep and the free food they do receive.
Pedro Rodriguez runs a network of food pantries that helped feed new Yorkers during the pandemic. He believes part of the problem is that the food is not what these families are used to eating — but adds it's also just not enough.
“They don't have food for the children. These kids are getting hungrier. We are scrambling,” Rodriguez told NBC New York. “This is an emergency in that sense. We're talking about babies that need food.”
From the very beginning of the migrant influx, the I-Team has been asking City Hall about the food supply. Adams said in the past that "we're providing them with food. I mean, this city is so humane!"
Mayor Adams has drawn criticism lately regarding the city's handling of the influx of migrants. After the city initially planned to build a tent city for asylum seekers in the Bronx, Adams shifted course and said it would instead be built on Randall's Island. It was also reported that the city had plans to house migrants on one of Norwegian Cruise Line's luxury vessels upon arrival in the Big Apple.
A mom of a little boy suggested Mayor Adams pay a visit with inspectors to the shelters, adding that her one wish is for the federal government to give migrants the opportunity to work so she can provide for her own children and not ask for help.
While most homeless families from New York receive food stamps or welfare, the migrants do not. And they can't work, so they have no power to supplement what the shelters provide.
In a statement, the city Department of Social Services said they are working around the clock to serve thousands of recently arrived asylum seekers. The statement did not address specific questions about the food supply, nor whether they are aware of any hungry babies in their care.
"We ensure that all shelters serving families with children are receiving adequate and appropriate food provisions for all infants on site," the DSS said in their statement.
