ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Tompkins County’s brick-and-mortar Code Blue shelter is preparing to open in Ithaca.

The county purchased the parcel on Ithaca’s west end in late 2024 to serve as an eventual dedicated year-round shelter.

The site was chosen for this year’s Code Blue operations after an agreement for a joint venture with the City of Ithaca on Commercial Avenue fell through in September. The county pivoted from the plan after concerns that the renovation work would delay the opening too long.

Deputy County Administrator Bridgitte Nugent says the temporary location at the former Found Antiques is nearly ready and should open next week.

New this season, the shelter will have on-site showers in the building, will accommodate service animals, and provide daytime warming. The shelter service provider, Volunteers of America Upstate New York, is working to meet the opening date deadline.

If you or someone you know need shelter before November 24, contact the Tompkins County Department of Social Services during business hours at (607) 274-5680, or call non-emergency dispatch after hours and on weekends at (607) 272-2444 to be connected to DSS on-call services.