NY Lawmaker: Homeless Veterans Displaced by Migrants, a ‘Gross Misrepresentation’

Charitable Organization Founder Accused of Fabricating Story About Homeless Veterans

Background

The founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation, Sharon Toney-Finch, claimed that 20 homeless veterans were kicked out of hotels near New York City to make room for migrants seeking asylum. The story gained widespread attention and bipartisan condemnation, with both Republicans and Democrats calling for investigations. However, State Assemblyman Brian Maher has now accused Toney-Finch of fabricating the story and misleading him.

Investigations

Maher has asked the attorney general of Orange County and New York’s district attorney to investigate potential misconduct by the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation. He has also spoken with individuals who were said to have been veterans displaced by migrants and someone who transported the migrants from the hotels they were staying at. Maher was left waiting for three hours at a bank to meet up with Toney-Finch to verify that the foundation had paid for shelter for the veterans. A receipt that was purported to be from the organization that had previously been given as proof appeared to have been altered, according to state lawmakers who spoke with the Times Union.

Disputed Claims

Several hotels implicated in the initial report have disputed Toney-Finch’s claims, saying that her narrative was not true. Todd Solloway, an attorney for Crossroads Hotel, said in a letter that there “are not now, and never were, any group of veterans at the hotel and certainly none were kicked out to make way for migrant asylum seekers.”

He added, “My client and their staff are receiving serious threats — including death threats — from all over the county as a result of his false accusation. And, this morning, the staff at the Hotel were forced to call 911 to seek protection against someone who was menacing the staff at the hotel, claiming he was looking for the veterans.”

Conclusion

Maher has worked with Toney-Fitch and her foundation several times over the last few years. He said that he asked for her to provide evidence several times in multiple phone calls as he began to believe he may have been lied to. “Their gross misrepresentation of the facts surrounding our homeless veterans is appalling,” the lawmaker added in a statement.

It is important to verify claims before spreading them, especially when they involve vulnerable populations such as homeless veterans and migrants seeking asylum.

• State Assemblyman Brian Maher has accused the founder of the Yerik Israel Toney Foundation of fabricating a story about homeless veterans being kicked out of hotels to make room for migrants.
• Several hotels implicated in the initial report have disputed Toney-Finch’s claims.
• Maher has asked for investigations into potential misconduct by the foundation.

It is important to verify claims before spreading them, especially when they involve vulnerable populations such as homeless veterans and migrants seeking asylum.