(New York City) New York City will close its last migrant hotel, the Row NYC Hotel, on August 10, 2025, after arrivals of asylum seekers fell sharply this summer and shelter needs shifted.
City officials say intakes dropped from about 4,000 a week at the peak to around 100 a week, allowing the emergency hotel program to wind down while other shelter options remain available.
What is closing
The Row NYC Hotel on Eighth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan became the first large hotel converted for migrants in 2022, when the traditional shelter system was overwhelmed. The site holds about 1,300 rooms and has not operated as a standard tourist hotel since the conversion.
Its closure marks the end of the city’s emergency hotel phase for migrants and asylum seekers.
Mayor Eric Adams frames the move as progress. His team says more than 200,000 people moved out of city care toward self‑sufficiency over the past two years. He had announced a plan earlier this year to close 53 migrant shelters by June 2025. As of now, the city reports 64 emergency sites have closed, including all tent facilities.
What comes next for shelter capacity
Even as this migrant hotel shuts down, the Department of Homeless Services is seeking bids to keep hotel rooms in reserve. The city aims to secure about 14,000 rooms through 2025.
This approach is designed to:
- Keep capacity ready if arrivals change again
- End high‑cost emergency deals with one-off hotel arrangements
- Shift to competitively bid contracts for steadier long‑term capacity
Vijay Dandapani of the Hotel Association of New York City says member properties plan to compete for the new contracts. He notes hotels must weigh rising costs—including property taxes and labor—against the steady revenue that city contracts can bring.
Why arrivals fell
Officials point to a simple fact: far fewer buses are pulling into the city. Earlier this summer, weekly arrivals of asylum seekers hovered near 100, a fraction of the 4,000 a week seen at the height of the crisis.
According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the reduced flow eased pressure on intake sites and allowed case managers to shift from triage to placing families in longer‑term housing.
What this means for migrants
The closure does not end support, but it may change where people sleep. The city’s plan to hold hotel rooms under new contracts is meant to provide stability.
Families and single adults who were staying at the Row NYC Hotel will receive placement elsewhere, based on space and needs, officials say.
If you are in city care today:
– Ask your case worker how the move will affect your check‑in times, school commutes, and mail.
– Keep your documents, phones, and medications with you on moving day.
– Confirm where to pick up any benefits or transportation cards after the transfer.
If you arrive in the coming weeks:
– Go to the city intake location you are directed to by staff at arrival points.
– Share contact details so staff can reach you about placement.
– Tell staff about any medical needs, language needs, or school enrollment for children so you are placed correctly.
Impact on the hotel industry
The emergency contracts that kept many properties full are phasing out. Some hotels may return to tourist business; others will try to win city contracts under the new bid process.
Key industry pressures:
– Higher operating costs (labor, property taxes)
– Potential tax increases affecting room rates and renovation plans
– Need to balance city contract revenue versus returning to tourist clientele
Dandapani says the association will work to keep rooms available for city use while keeping hotels financially stable.
Why the Row NYC Hotel mattered
Beyond its size, the Row became a symbol of New York’s response during the surge. It was the first hotel turned into a large‑scale shelter when buses arrived daily and families needed a safe place the same night.
Inside the building, staff arranged food, school enrollments, and medical care. Closing this site signals that the emergency moment has passed, even if the need for beds has not vanished.
Policy and numbers at a glance
| Item | Figure |
|---|---|
| Row NYC Hotel closes | August 10, 2025 |
| Capacity at Row | about 1,300 rooms |
| Peak arrivals | about 4,000 asylum seekers per week |
| Recent arrivals | around 100 per week (earlier this summer) |
| Sites already closed | 64, including all tents |
| Earlier plan | Close 53 migrant shelters by June 2025 |
| Goal for hotel rooms under contract | about 14,000 through 2025 |
Questions readers are asking
- Will people be left without a bed?
City officials say they will place current residents elsewhere and keep thousands of hotel rooms on contract to prevent gaps. Does this end services for asylum seekers?
No. The city’s emergency hotel phase ends, but intake, basic shelter, and case services will continue under other contracts and sites.Could arrivals rise again?
The city’s plan to keep 14,000 rooms is intended to handle swings without rebuilding tent sites.
Important: The city intends to keep capacity available through new contracts so it can respond to changing arrival patterns without returning to emergency tent sites.
What to watch in the months ahead
- How many hotels win the new contracts, and which boroughs they’re in
- Whether property tax and wage pressures change room supply
- The effect on Midtown as a large building shifts away from use as a migrant hotel
- Weekly intake numbers to see if the downward trend holds
Practical takeaways for families and single adults
- Keep all paperwork in one envelope: passport, notice papers, school letters, and health records
- Save phone numbers for your case worker and the shelter front desk to confirm moves and pick‑up times
- If your child is enrolled in a nearby school, ask for a school transfer only if the new shelter is far; staff can help with a free transit plan to keep a stable routine when possible
For official updates about shelters and placements, check the New York City Department of Homeless Services website: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/dhs/index.page
New York’s decision to close the Row NYC Hotel ends a visible chapter in the city’s response to the humanitarian surge. The numbers have changed. The needs remain.
The next test is whether the new, planned system—smaller, steadier, and bid out competitively—can house people safely without the costs and chaos that defined the emergency years.
This Article in a Nutshell
New York ends its emergency hotel phase by closing Row NYC on August 10, 2025. Dramatic intake drops—from 4,000 to about 100 weekly—allowed the city to pivot to competitive hotel contracts aiming for roughly 14,000 rooms through 2025 while continuing placements and case services for residents.
