New report refutes claims of homeless veterans being displaced due to migrants

19 May 2023

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A new report is pushing back against a baseless claim suggesting that migrants were to blame for the displacement of homeless veterans. According to Times Union, the story which garnered national attention began circulating over the last week.

Per the news outlet, "A local nonprofit said homeless veterans under its care had been kicked out of upstate hotels to make room for migrants bused from New York City."

However, in a matter of hours, the details of the story began to unravel after New York Assemblyman Brian Maher (R-Walden) — an advocate for veterans – denounced aspects of the story during a phone interview.

Speaking to Times Union, Maher shared his reaction to the story as it paints migrants in a bad light. According to Maher, the scathing report is disheartening and devastating.

"This is something I believe hurt a lot of people," Maher said.

According to the lawmaker's account of what transpired, he was "taken for a ride."

Times Union reports:

Sharon Toney-Finch, the CEO of the nonprofit, is a respected person in the community with a track record of helping veterans, he said. At a Wingate hotel in Fishkill, Maher spoke with two people claiming to be veterans who were displaced from the Crossroads Hotel in Newburgh, which has received 110 migrants sent by New York City; he spoke to a purported driver who transported the displaced vets; and he assembled care packages and solicited donations after the nonprofit asked for his help.

Maher disclosed details about the purported driver and veterans. A Republican insider also provided a copy of what was initially charged to Toney-Finch’s credit card, showing a payment of $37,800 made to the Crossroads Hotel on April 12.

That information was forwarded to Maher as proof accommodations were made and funded by the foundation.

Additionally, report says, "The lawmaker wanted further proof of the receipt after concerns arose that the screenshot invoice had been digitally manipulated. So Maher asked Toney-Finch to meet him at the bank to gather financial statements. She didn’t show. Maher said that as he realized Toney-Finch had made up the story, he called her and pressed her on why she would do that. He said she just kept repeating that she was trying to help the veterans and appeared to unravel emotionally."

Times Union's full report is available at this link.

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