Homeless women sought shelter in NYC. They found chronic violence and dysfunction.

""Everyone was like, 'Did you see the bloodbath?'" said Cook, a former resident who had moved in hours before the altercation, and asked that her first name be withheld out of concern her history of homelessness would affect her ability to find work. "They were just in shock.""

"At least 260 fights and disputes erupted at Tillary in 2024, up 72% from 2019, according to city data. Many involved a major injury or a weapon of some kind."

"Last fiscal year, Tillary's rate of 'priority-one serious incidents' - including assaults, arrests, medical crises, overdoses and deaths - was more than double the citywide average for single-adult shelters."

"The mounting chaos at Tillary demonstrates why some homeless people are reluctant to seek shelter, as the facility has become increasingly dangerous."

The Tillary Street Women's Shelter in Downtown Brooklyn has seen a significant rise in violence, with at least 260 fights reported in 2024, a 72% increase since 2019. Many incidents involved serious injuries or weapons. The shelter's rate of serious incidents, including assaults and medical crises, is more than double the citywide average for similar facilities. Over the past decade, the shelter has received thousands of 911 calls, indicating worsening conditions as reporting requirements have increased.

Read at Gothamist