Feb. 6, 2015 By Michael Florio
In the wake of news that a sex offender was being housed in a family shelter, the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has announced that it has changed its policy regarding housing sex offenders.
The new policy will no longer permit level two or three sex offenders from being housed in the same shelter as families and children. The sex offenders will be referred to single adult shelters.
“DHS takes safety concerns in its shelters very seriously and…is moving forward with proposed policy changes regarding sex offenders in shelters housing families with children,” DHS wrote in a statement.
Earlier this week it was reported that James Bryant, a level two sex offender, was living in the Westway Motel—which is for families– on Astoria Blvd.
Local politicians and residents were outraged about him being at the shelter. The outrage led to Bryant’s removal.
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