BrooklynSpeaks sponsors provide housing, relocation relief to families displaced by Dean Street shelter closure

Residents of the Pacific Dean Annex shelter on Dean and Pacific Streets between Carlton and Vanderbilt Avenues were advised Monday, December 7 that the facility would close permanently on January 15 and begin demolition shortly thereafter.

Shelter management explained that displaced families are receiving no assistance from the Atlantic Yards developer, Forest City Ratner.

As of January 8, the Fifth Avenue Committee had leased permanent housing to four of the displaced families.

The Prospect Heights Neighborhood Development Council has established a fund to accept donations for relocation assistance to the shelter families. PHNDC will work with the NYC Department of Homeless Services to distribute all money raised to needy families. Community members can donate using this online form. When completing the form, please indicate you’d like your donation to be used for the “Pacific Dean Shelter Family Relocation Fund”. Donations are tax deductible.

The shelter (buildings in foreground of picture) is one of the last structures on block 1129 in the Atlantic Yards footprint. The block is part of the project's phase 2 site, where the start of construction is uncertain, but is likely years or decades away. In the meantime, the block will be used for construction staging, and, eventually, a massive surface parking lot for the Barclays Center arena.

(Photo by Tracy Collins.)