BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — Buffalo State University announced it is ending its agreement with Jericho Road Community Health Center to provide temporary housing to asylum seekers.
In a statement, Buffalo State University Interim President Bonita R. Durand, Ph.D. said it had a revocable permit with Jericho Road to provide temporary accommodations for 30 to 45 asylum seekers from May through early August. According to Durand, Jericho Road recently requested an extension through February and with the academic year about to begin at Buffalo State the decision was made not to enter into an additional revocable permit.
“It’s incredibly challenging and disheartening to see that decision made so hastily,” remarked Meghan Maloney de Zaldavar, director of organizing & strategy, New York Immigration Coalition
Now Jericho Road, the resettlement agency is scrambling to find a new place for them to live.
“They're very creative and figuring out solutions, so I know they've been working all hours of the evening trying to find places to say, but they're really at the forefront of figuring out those logistics,” replied Maloney de Zaldavar.
You can read Durand's complete statement below:
"Buffalo State University had a revocable permit with Jericho Road Community Health Center, providing temporary accommodation for 30 to 45 Jericho Road asylum-seeker clients from May through early August. This revocable permit was intended as a temporary solution, a steppingstone for Jericho Road as it sought more permanent housing for these families. Jericho Road recently requested an extension through February.
As the academic year begins, it is crucial we continue to ensure our focus is on launching the academic year for students and the Buffalo State campus. After careful consideration, I made the difficult decision to not enter into an additional revocable permit. This decision was not taken lightly but was reached with the best interests of our students and campus community in mind.
We have taken measures to support the Jericho Road clients affected by this decision. We have attempted to connect Jericho Road to local organizations that we hope can help find alternate housing for the clients of Jericho Road. I want to express our continued admiration for the work Jericho Road does within our community. Its mission is important, and we enthusiastically applaud its ongoing efforts. We look forward to finding new ways to collaborate and support each other in our shared mission of service."
In a statement, Jericho Road CEO and Founder Dr. Myron Glick said the decision by the Buffalo State administration was "influenced by prejudice in the Buffalo community against asylum seekers." Glick continued on to say that Jericho Road is committed to finding temporary shelter for the 44 asylum seekers.
You can read Glick's complete statement below:
"On Monday, 44 of our Vive residents will be evicted from their temporary housing on Buffalo State Campus. This decision by Buffalo State Administration was influenced by prejudice in the Buffalo community against asylum seekers. These asylum seekers have fled atrocities in their home country and are seeking a safe place to call home here in our community. When we do nothing as others suffer, we become responsible for what we witness. We know this community to be a welcoming place, we know it as 'the city of good neighbors.' It is time for that Buffalo to step up. We are committed to finding temporary shelter for all 44 of these residents."
“Those people, who are seeking asylum, are painted with such a broad brush, because of the actions of few people and when we see the reality on a daily basis, we see families who are incredibly vulnerable,” Maloney de Zaldavar. “The decisions made by Buff State is incredibly, incredibly frustrating.
Cheektowaga Town Council member Brian Nowak tells me code enforcement officers have checked out the three hotels where more asylum seekers are staying, and the board will get an update at Tuesday night's town meeting.
“Those individuals have been arrested, detained without bail, and they're working through the process right now,” responded Nowak.
For now, the safety of residents remains a top concern as some migrants have been knocking on doors.
“You want folks to be safe and you have calls coming in or you're hearing from constituents, that there's folks in their backyard, asking for work, asking for money. Those are community quality life issues,” explained Nowak. “I’ve had a chance to speak with management and one of the hotels, he actually covering two of them, about making sure that these - the folks are aware you can't go out neighborhood in the community to panhandle. It's not acceptable."
The Cheektowaga lawmaker said he has also been informed that the New York State National Guard is keeping watch at the hotels.
"I've received notice from our chief of police that they're there, and the understanding I have is that they're just providing a presence there,” replied Nowak.
Buffalo State issued another statement Monday night saying housing was found for the migrants.
Statement from Buffalo State University Interim President Bonita R. Durand, Ph.D.:
"We are pleased to learn from Jericho Road that it has identified housing for its clients who were provided temporary accommodation by Buffalo State University."
