Homeless couple booted from Queens 'love nest' but vow to return

Marabel and Michael refuse shelter offers, move encampment down the block

Apr. 11, 2026 at 8:11pm

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An extreme close-up photograph of a discarded pizza box on a sidewalk, lit by a harsh, direct camera flash against a pitch-black background, conceptually representing the public defecation and unsanitary conditions left behind by the homeless couple.A harsh flash illuminates the squalid aftermath left behind by a notorious homeless couple's 'love nest' in Queens.NYC Today

The city has cleared out the squalid encampment of a homeless couple known as Marabel and Michael, who had turned a Queens sidewalk into their personal 'love nest' complete with public drinking, sex, and defecation. However, the pair have simply moved their camp a few blocks down the street, vowing to continue their partying ways.

Why it matters

The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of homelessness and public disorder in New York City, as well as the debate over how authorities should balance compassion and enforcement when dealing with such issues.

The details

Marabel and Michael, a homeless couple known for their public drinking, sex, and defecation, had turned a stretch of 30th Avenue in Astoria, Queens into their makeshift 'love nest'. After The Post reported on the unsanitary conditions, city authorities cleared out their encampment twice this week. However, the couple simply moved their camp a few blocks down the street, refusing offers of shelter and vowing to continue their partying ways.

  • On Wednesday, the Department of Homeless Services, NYPD, and Sanitation Department cleared out the couple's first encampment.
  • On Thursday, Marabel and Michael moved their camp to a spot in front of a fertility clinic, but that was also cleared out by authorities that evening.

The players

Marabel

One half of the notorious homeless couple who turned a Queens sidewalk into their personal 'love nest'.

Michael

The other half of the homeless couple, who has claimed to be a former Marine and is waiting for Marabel's return after she was taken to a hospital.

Chris Singler

A local resident who witnessed the couple's public defecation and sex acts, and is relieved the encampment has been cleared, at least temporarily.

Charles Sciberras

A local real estate executive who blames the mayor's 'kid gloves approach' for the spiraling homelessness problem in the area.

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What they’re saying

“'I'm waiting for her here. I hope she's okay,'”

— Michael

“'This summer is going to be great because it's the 250th anniversary of America. It'll be good for people like us who like to party,'”

— Marabel

“'Very relieved to have the street cleaned up. Getting up and going to the gym at 5:30 a.m. is hard enough without having to dodge excrement on my way through a homeless orgy,'”

— Chris Singler, local resident

“'You're killing business. The big problem is the mayor, he's a loser. [Mayor] Adams did it very simply. When they had a person they removed them.'”

— Charles Sciberras, local real estate executive

What’s next

Authorities will continue monitoring the situation and attempting to connect Marabel and Michael with social services, though the couple has so far refused offers of shelter.

The takeaway

This incident underscores the ongoing challenges of homelessness and public disorder in New York City, as well as the debate over how to balance compassion and enforcement when dealing with such complex social issues.