Migrant's Death In LIC Shelter Shows Negligence By City, Provider: Won

LONG ISLAND CITY, QUEENS — The Long Island City shelter where an asylum seeker died by suicide last week was already plagued with problems ranging from mold to disease to a lack of services, a local lawmaker alleged Thursday.

City Council Member Julie Won called a press conference to condemn the city and the shelter's provider, whom she said bore responsibility for woeful conditions at the facility where 26-year-old Venezuela native John Ortega reportedly took his own life last Wednesday.

Citing privacy concerns, Won's office did not name the shelter, but said it was near the Dutch Kills street corner where she spoke out on Thursday.

As more than 31,000 migrants have flowed into the city since last spring, Won's office said they have been made aware of "a number of issues" with this particular shelter, run by the nonprofit provider Samaritan Daytop Village.

They include "an almost complete lack of Spanish speaking staff or service providers" on occasions when Won has visited, as well as a lack of adequate, healthy or culturally competent food, which Won said has sickened multiple children, citing reports from local schools.

Meanwhile, visible mold in some residents' rooms was not addressed quickly enough, and the shelter responded slowly to a medical crisis when six residents came down with chickenpox and children suffered gastrointestinal problems, Won alleged.

A spokesperson for Samaritan Daytop Village referred Patch to the city's Department of Social Services, which said in a statement that Ortega's death is "an absolutely heart-breaking tragedy, and we are working with the family to support them during this difficult time and addressing any concerns as they arise.

"These families are coming to New York City after a months-long harrowing journey, in some cases, still reeling from the trauma they experienced along the way," the DSS spokesperson said. "We recognize the very unique challenges asylum seekers are facing and we remain committed to continuing to build on our ongoing efforts and interagency coordination to connect these families and individuals to mental health supports as we help them stabilize their lives in a new country."

Won said the shelter has not offered to support Ortega's cremation or funeral services, though neighbors created a GoFundMe to raise money for his family.

"As immigrants, we dream of stepping foot on U.S. soil with great hopes and dreams of a better life. It is heartbreaking that John Ortega, 26 years old, took the long journey by foot from Venezuela and found himself hopeless in desperation that he took his own life. He leaves behind his partner and three children," Won said in a statement.

"John’s loved ones cried out that Samaritan Daytop Village did not provide mental health services despite their requests for help. DHS did not notify my office of John’s death and have failed to provide assistance for the family to have a funeral for the deceased," she added.

"Whether a person arrives from Latin America, Africa, or other parts of the world, they deserve to be treated with respect and dignity, but that is not what we’re seeing in our shelters."

Won also took aim at Mayor Eric Adams's response to the influx of migrants, which has included constructing — and then hastily closing — an outdoor "tent city" on Randall's Island to house around 1,000 people.

"The mayor has spent millions on tent cities but did not ensure that these services were provided in the languages spoken by those who need it," Won's office said.

The city says it has opened 62 emergency shelters to house the thousands of asylum seekers, and sought an $8.2 emergency funding round to hire bilingual staff across intake sites serving asylum seekers. Emergency sites that opened in the last few months get regular inspections to make sure their conditions are up to code, and the Department of Health is visiting shelters to offer medical care and mental health support, according to DSS.

Joining Won on Thursday was Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, who noted that the city is now expecting another wave of asylum seekers in the coming weeks.

"People who have come to our city seeking asylum have endured immense trauma, which must be met with increased empathy and treated with elevated mental health services," Williams said in a statement. "This is a national crisis that has become a New York crisis, and with the expectation of an increase in people arriving in the coming weeks, we cannot wait to put in place the plans and the resources necessary to meet the need."

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, there are resources to help. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24 hours a day by calling 988. Its website offers services including a live chat.