Catholic Charities opens new homeless shelter in Elmira
ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM) – Catholic Charities opened a new homeless shelter on May 8, 2024.
The new shelter is located on 160 High Street in Elmira. Catholic Charities staff, city officials, and other community members gathered at the shelter on May 7 for a news conference to announce the opening along with what’s planned for the future.
The number of people in Elmira visiting these shelters has increased dramatically in the past couple of years.
“In 2019, the amount of people we sheltered each night was 19. In 2023, the average census per night was 232. In January of 2024, our census numbers peaked at about 320. The rapid increase in these census numbers is driven by many factors, including substance abuse, mental illness and our shortage of housing stock here in the City of Elmira,” said Director of Catholic Charities in Chemung & Schuyler Counties Nancy Koons.
Catholic Charities’ previous shelter on College Avenue closed more than two years ago due to safety concerns. The new shelter is expected to have extra security.
“We have metal detectors and we will have security guards on staff during our operating hours to keep the staff and other clients safe,” said Director of Economic Security for the Chemung County Dept. of Social Services Jaquie Canute.
Homelessness numbers up in Chemung County
It will be able to house 47 people, but only certain people will be able to live there.
“This shelter will not be for the placement of families with children nor will we be placing any person that presents to us with a physical or mental health condition that would not be an appropriate placement for them to be placed here,” said Canute.
The gym location is temporary with the hope of expanding soon.
New “dormitory” homeless shelter to open in Elmira
“Our goal is to establish a permanent shelter on the grounds of the former St. Peter and Paul Parish. So, we look forward to sometime in the future having a permanent shelter,” said Koons.
“We welcome this. we’re excited for this. You know, it seems just recently or over the past few years but more so in the news homelessness is an issue. Certainly, the City of Elmira is not prone to that. So, welcome. Yes, it has been a long time. We look forward to the future. We look forward to the partnership with the city,” said Elmira City Manager Mike Collins.
The shelter will be open Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. It is expected that residents will seek housing and job opportunities when the shelter isn’t open.
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