ITHACA, N.Y. — Tompkins County has announced plans to purchase the property at 227 Cherry St. in Ithaca to develop a long-term emergency-shelter facility.
The county unveiled the plans at a Tuesday, Nov. 26 press conference.
The Tompkins County Legislature will vote at its Tuesday, Dec. 3 meeting to acquire the property, allowing the land acquisition to move forward. The county examined more than a dozen sites before settling on Cherry Street. The one-acre parcel, which contains two structures, is near several existing homeless encampment areas and service providers.
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“Hundreds of people experience homelessness in Tompkins County in a given year,” Legislature Chair Dan Klein said at the press conference. “Nearly one-third of people experiencing homelessness reported returning to homelessness after securing a permanent destination… Tompkins County is in a position to significantly strengthen our shelter system, giving as many people as we can a safe place to go and a reasonable path out of negative situations. We agree with the vision of making homelessness rare, brief, and one time. This requires big thinking and strong partnerships. It also requires investment. Millions of dollars have been put forth by Tompkins County, including over $1 million to purchase this land on Cherry Street.”
The county plans to contract with MM Development Advisors (MMDA), an affordable-housing development partner with experience developing shelter facilities, on the shelter project. It is estimated a shelter with the capacity to shelter up to 100 individuals can be developed on the site.
Tompkins County is also working with contracted motel partners for the Temporary Housing Assistance (THA) program to increase the number of available beds to serve up to 90 people, an increase from 26 beds offered at the former THA shelter operated by St. John’s Community Services.
The temporary Code Blue shelter at the former KeyBank building opened for use on Monday, Nov. 25. It provides space for up to 50 individuals who need a place to sleep during cold weather.
“We are adding significant capacity today to our emergency shelter system while planning for the future,” Tompkins County Administrator Lisa Holmes said. “Emergency sheltering is not the only needed solution to homelessness, but it is a core function of our system that needs to be shored up and part of the county’s responsibilities to serve people experiencing homelessness.”
