In a significant policy change under Mayor Eric Adams' administration, migrant families with children will be required to vacate their New York City shelters, marking a major shift in how long families and their children can stay in one place. The first round of displacements is scheduled for tomorrow, affecting 40 families residing at The Row hotel in Midtown, according to the Coalition for the Homeless.

Affected families will need to pack their belongings, check out of their rooms, and either find alternative housing or reapply for shelter at The Roosevelt Hotel, the city's main intake center. However, this new policy has faced criticism from elected officials, housing and immigrant advocates, as well as City Council members. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential negative impact on children, including the disruption of their education and the need to adapt to new schools in different boroughs.

Jennifer Pringle, the project director for Advocates for Children, expressed her worries about the policy's implications. She stated, "I can't imagine a scenario where there won't be a significant disruption to children's education. It just is ridiculous that families are going to be moved mid-year when school, for so many families, is a primary source of support and stability."

The 60-day notice policy, initiated by the city last fall, aims to address the lack of available space for new migrants arriving each week. Originally, families with children were asked to leave immediately after Christmas. However, the city extended the deadline by two weeks to avoid displacing families during the holidays and children's winter break.

Despite the earlier notices, some migrant families received new letters containing revised dates to vacate the shelters. Notably, these letters failed to provide information about reapplying for shelter at The Roosevelt or informing families that homeless students have the right to stay in their schools, even if they change shelters.

With approximately 66,000 migrants residing in shelters, the majority being families with children, Mayor Eric Adams' administration has been grappling with the growing issue of providing adequate housing. In response to the changing circumstances, families with expiring 60-day notices will have to check out of their hotel rooms by mid-morning and return their keys. If they need to reapply for shelter, they will not need to bring their children to The Roosevelt intake center and can instead send them to school.

Advocates anticipate that many families will keep their children out of school tomorrow to maintain cohesion within the family unit, as it remains uncertain how long it will take to secure new shelter placements. Jennifer Pringle predicts a high rate of absences in schools once the transition process begins.

Under federal regulations, homeless children are entitled to remain in their current schools, even if they relocate to different shelters. City Hall spokesperson Kayla Mamelak assured that students who transfer schools within the city will continue to receive support and services during the transition. Mamelak emphasized the need for federal assistance in managing the ongoing migrant crisis.

To keep families near their youngest child's school, the city plans to reserve some hotel rooms in Manhattan for placement purposes. Currently, the 60-day notices only apply to shelters not operated by the Department of Homeless Services, which currently houses the majority of migrant families.

While adult migrants are already restricted to 30-day shelter stays, their prolonged wait times for new bed placements outside a former Catholic school have raised concerns about the potential hardships facing families with children.

Liza Schwartzwald, the director of economic justice and family empowerment at the New York Immigration Coalition, described the situation as a "staggering injustice," emphasizing the moral duty to provide necessary assistance and prevent vulnerable individuals, including children, from being left on the streets during winter.

Various local elected leaders, including Councilmember Shahana Hanif, chair of the immigration committee, have demanded that Mayor Adams reverse this decision. Hanif expressed her disapproval, stating, "There's no way to justify what this administration is doing, how this mayor is utilizing his capacity to further harm people who need our compassion."

According to City Hall, approximately 4,800 notices have been issued thus far. Current data reveals that shelters are accommodating 51,000 individuals, primarily comprised of families with children. Of the 174 facilities exclusively housing families with children, 24 are non-DHS locations.

The 60-day notices will expire on a rolling basis, with future notices due in the coming weeks for other Midtown hotels such as The Watson and The Stewart.

As the implementation of this new policy looms, advocates, officials, and concerned communities eagerly await any potential updates or changes that may alleviate the challenges faced by migrant families in New York City's shelter system.