El Refugio: David Peña

Venezuelan refugee David Peña was welcomed by New York City with open arms, provided with safety and shelter at the Bellevue Hotel in August of 2022. One year later, he is being forced to evict from his shelter facing a winter without a roof. A mass influx of migrants have arrived in NYC following a series of protective sanctuary laws, overwhelming the city’s resources and promises. The city is facing a shelter management crisis and David is the collateral.