Neighbors: Kingsbridge underpass has become hangout for the homeless, site for fights

An underpass in Kingsbridge has become a hangout for the homeless and neighbors say it is a hotbed for drugs and fights.

News 12 Staff

Jul 27, 2019, 2:15 AM

Updated 1,980 days ago

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An underpass in Kingsbridge has become a hangout for the homeless and neighbors say it is a hotbed for drugs and fights.
The stretch of East Kingsbridge Road that runs beneath the Grand Concourse, known to many as the D Train Underpass, has become home for several, and an unnerving location for others.
One resident says it is completely unsafe to be around there at night and that fights break out there often.
New York City Councilman Fernando Cabrera learned about the apparent homeless encampment a few weeks ago. He then contacted various city agencies, including the NYPD, Department of Health and Department of Social Services.
"They came, they did the intervention, but they keep coming back," says Cabrera.
On Friday, the site was less cluttered, but still a hangout. According to the Department of Social Services, outreach teams visit the area three to six times per day. Right now, they're working with three homeless people at the site to connect them to resources.
One of the men who calls the underpass home approached News 12 off-camera and admitted he is a drug addict. Cabrera says a case like that needs to be acknowledged when addressing the issue.
"One of the things that I'm proposing is that we allow for more funding to go directly to rehab programs to be able to quickly accept anyone," says Cabrera.