Shelter Closing Leaves Security Staff in Limbo

By HOWARD MEGDAL

An official with the union representing 45 Special Officers at the city's largest homeless center, Camp LaGuardia, said he was notified just minutes before the Nov. 18 announcement that the complex was to be closed.

GREGORY FLOYD: Expects re-deployment.

Local 237 Secretary/Treasurer Gregory Floyd said, however, that the city had assured him that all LaGuardia employees will be offered new jobs, most likely in other homeless shelters.

10 Minutes' Notice

"We were called about 10 minutes prior to the announcement," Mr. Floyd said during a Nov. 21 phone interview. "But I was assured they'd be offering positions for the 45 with the city."

Mr. Floyd said it was his understanding that Volunteers of America, which the city had contracted with to run Camp LaGuardia, had made the decision to close the facility.

"It's a negative surprise because we weren't given an opportunity to speak to [VOA] about it," Mr. Floyd said. "Obviously Volunteers of America knew what their plans were. So it's tough for our workers - you're working in a place, and then there's uncertainty."

Linda McNeil, a VOA spokeswoman, said she learned about the closing the day before it was announced.

Calls Closing City's Call

"The city decided to close Camp LaGuardia. Not that we disagree with their decision - but the timing and decision was solely theirs."

The Department of Homeless Services, meanwhile, took responsibility for the decision, but did not comment on when the choice was made, nor why both VOA, which has 240 employees on-site, and Local 237 were not told sooner. A DHS representative also declined to confirm that LaGuardia's Special Officers would be guaranteed new positions with the city.

Mr. Floyd said he would move quickly on behalf of the displaced workers.

"I'm meeting with DHS soon," he said. "Look, nothing is going to happen until we meet, but I don't expect them to miss a paycheck."

Since the employees of LaGuardia are mostly residents of Orange County, a city job may not be a good fit.

"We're looking to place as many as we can, and the city has pledged to work with us to take employees," Ms. McNeil said of the VOA workers. "But the odds of employees in Orange County wanting to come down to the city to work - I mean, it's probably not going to happen."