New York state officials are pushing back against allegations of misconduct agains DocGo, a company working with the city and state to help house migrants.
amNewYork Metro obtained and reviewed a letter from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) which found a lack of evidence to support the claims of misconduct made last month in a New York Times report.
The Times article indicated that migrants levied several accusations at DocGo for purported health and welfare violations in Albany — charging that they were lured upstate with false promises of work, only to be met with poor conditions inside motels and threats from local residents.
Sources with inside knowledge of the situation say city and state authorities from the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) formally and thoroughly investigated the matter following the allegations — something that was backed up in the letter amNewYork Metro obtained Thursday, which was signed by Cheryl Contento, deputy commissioner of OTDA’s division of shelter oversight and compliance.
“A recent New York Times article also raised concerns about inappropriate behavior of staff towards residents,” part of the letter read. “Concerns were raised by area nonprofits and in news reports about spoiled food, lack of transportation to medical appointments, incorrect information provided to migrants on work authorization, whether school age children were being enrolled in school, and poor conditions at the hotels.”
Investigators had visited several sites and spoke with migrants in multiple languages. Following a lengthy and extensive analysis, the letter noted, officials reported that they did not find evidence of any grievances.
“During the most recent visits, OTDA inspectors who speak Spanish engaged with residents to make sure they feel safe and to ask if they have any concerns,” the letter said. “OTDA’s inspectors found the [hotel] to be clean and in good condition.”
The letter also argued that migrants had access to food, childcare necessities, menstrual products, and transportation needs.
After obtaining the letter, amNewYork Metro reached out to the NYC Housing Preservation and Development for comment on the accusations levied at DocGo and the response.
“This independent investigation and report provides much needed clarity about the quality of care and services we’re providing to asylum seekers outside of New York City. At each and every site, OTDA spoke with residents who felt safe, raised no concerns, and did not feel bullied or intimidated. Each of the services required in our contract were verified as available at all sites – including medical, security, case management, daily meals, infant supplies, and personal hygiene products – and any concerns raised by area nonprofits or in news reports were either promptly addressed or non-existent at the time of their visits,” a HPD spokesperson said. “New York City is doing everything we can to provide asylum seekers with the dignity and respect they deserve after a long and difficult journey. We will continue to approach this work with the attention to detail it deserves, respond to feedback, welcome independent oversight and support, and improve our care to the best of our abilities.”
This back and forth comes as the mass migration crisis continues to lead headlines, and as the city itself seeks federal aid to help fund the continued arrival of asylum-seekers.
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