Five Borough Veterans

10/06/2026

Last night, the City of New York tried to hide the conditions at Borden Avenue Veterans Residence, the city's only homeless shelter for veterans.

Residents were handed a mandatory inspection notice threatening their belongings, just hours before the Commissioner of Social Services arrived and days before elected officials were scheduled to tour. We confronted the Commissioner directly, with Council Members Julie Won and Phil Wong present.

On October 21, the City Council will hold an oversight hearing on veteran homelessness and conditions at Borden. Our veterans need you there.

Register to testify: https://luma.com/iwc265k9

Written testimony: [email protected]

Stand with us.

09/28/2026

Starting today, New York City's congressional candidates will sit before our panel of veteran advocates in a series of public interviews ahead of the November midterm elections.

Through our Candidate Roundtable Initiative, we're bringing in candidates from districts across the city to answer the questions our community considers most pressing. Subscribers can submit their own questions, and our advocates will bring the strongest ones into the sessions.

At the close of each interview, every advocate will independently rate the candidate from 1 to 10 on their confidence in that candidate's ability to serve the district. We'll average those scores into a Confidence Rating and publish it in our upcoming Voter's Guide.

Candidates who decline to participate will receive a zero. New York City veterans have long been frustrated with elected officials who show up only when it's politically convenient, and this rating reflects that.

We do not endorse or oppose candidates. All sessions are open to the public and streamed live, with recordings published afterward for anyone who can't attend.

Full schedule and registration: https://fiveboroveterans.substack.com/p/new-york-citys-congressional-candidates

09/25/2026

The Borden Avenue Veterans Residence in Long Island City has served veterans experiencing homelessness for nearly two decades. Today it houses more than 200 veterans, supported in part by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem program, a federal program that funds transitional housing and supportive services. The City Council estimates that funding at approximately $4 million a year, covering 125 to 150 beds.

On October 1, the City of New York will end its participation in that program.

The two agencies involved have given conflicting explanations. The NYC Department of Homeless Services has stated that the VA offered a reduced award conditioned on excluding transgender veterans from VA-funded beds. The VA has denied this, stating that the award reflected the facility’s performance. A VA letter dated August 7 indicates the City chose not to pursue continuation of the grant. Residents learned of the decision this week.

On September 24, Five Borough Veterans filed a Freedom of Information Act request with the VA and a Freedom of Information Law request with the Department of Homeless Services. We have requested the award notice, any conditions attached to the funding, correspondence between the agencies, and the City’s plan to maintain beds and services after September 30.

We will share what we receive with the New York City Council and the public. The veterans at Borden Avenue deserve a clear account of this decision and assurance that their housing and services will continue without interruption.

09/23/2026

The Midterm Elections are on the horizon, and the Five Borough Veterans are back again for another Candidate Roundtable Initiative!

This virtual series will bring each candidate from every district across New York City face to face with our military-connected community. Our advocates will engage each in policy conversations, and rate their confidence in their candidacy based on four focuses:

- Integrity
- Performance Under Pressure
- Experience/Knowledge of our community
-Leadership Capability (or the potential for it)

Here's the best part (and a new change we made):

Each meeting will be live-streamed for each of you to join and watch the conversations unfold.

Sign up here for the series: https://luma.com/nyccongress26

We'll see you there!

09/20/2026

The Caribbean community of New York City has a long history of service in the U.S military.

Hailing from Trinidad, Gerard Placide, a Five Borough Veteran who served in the Army, dedicated himself to building the bridge between communities using his greatest passion: music.

Last night, Five Borough Veterans was proud to sponsor the launch of the International Music & Cultural Diplomacy Initiative, a community project led by Gerard to build bonds through musical expression.

Thank you to Councilmember Chris Banks for recognizing Gerard for his work and ongoing advocacy for our community and New Yorkers as a whole.

09/19/2026

What a day at Belmont Park!

Five Borough Veterans spent opening day at the track with active duty servicemembers, veterans, military families, and friends from the community who've never served. We enjoyed the food, toured the new venue, and spent the afternoon cheering on our picks together.

Days like this are a big part of what we do. For many in our community, especially those recently out of service or new to New York, it can be hard to find people to connect with. Getting everyone together in one place, service members and civilians alike, is one of the best ways we know to build those connections.

A special congratulations to Becton, Curtis, and Vonnie, who were recognized in the winner's circle!

Thank you to the U.S. Army and Belmont Park for hosting us. We're grateful for the partnership.

Want to join us at the next one? Follow our page or send us a message to stay in the loop.

09/16/2026

LEGISLATIVE MILESTONE ACHIEVED

The Discharge Petition for the Major Richard Star Act has received the required 218 signatures to force a floor vote.

Combat-Injured Veterans are that much closer to receiving their full retirement benefits.

Thank you to our advocates across the city and the country who pushed this legislation forward, and thank you to the 10 out of 11 NYC representatives who signed on and made this possible.

09/15/2026

The loss carried from the weight of 9/11 brewed fear, confusion and anger within most New Yorkers and Americans alike.

We few however, chose a different outlet: a lifetime of service to our communities.

Our Five Borough Veterans were proud to unite 18 organizations over the course of four days to reflect on where we were when our people were lost, and who we will become as we look to the future, together.

09/11/2026

Tonight, we step off together for the Paddy Brown Community Run to honor FDNY Capt. Patrick "Paddy" Brown, Ladder 3, and all the heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice 25 years ago today.

Whether you're a veteran, first responder, advocate, or fellow New Yorker, all fitness levels are welcome to come together, and keep their legacy alive in our city’s living memory.

Where: FDNY Ladder 3 Firehouse (108 E 13th St)
When: Gathering at 6:00 PM | Step-off at 6:30 PM
Sign up here: https://luma.com/x9zp2vf8

The Paddy Brown Community Run was created by Five Borough Veterans to honor FDNY Captain Patrick "Paddy" Brown, a Marine Corps Vietnam War veteran and one of…