ITHACA, NY (CortacaToday) – Tompkins County leaders are responding to criticism about emergency housing for the homeless in Ithaca.

Last week, the county announced it would repurpose the old Key Bank building on North Tioga Street as a temporary Code Blue shelter. Code Blue is a mandated and state-reimbursed program that ensures shelter when temperatures reach freezing.

On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, during a lengthy public comment period at the Tompkins County Legislature meeting, citizens expressed concern and displeasure about the decision to use the vacant Ithaca building as a shelter this winter. Residents spoke about housing as a human right, and some felt the county failed to explore all of its options.

Legislator Mike Sigler says colder temperatures are rapidly approaching, but the decision was not made in haste. It was borne of necessity.

Some residents pointed to the need for more dedicated solutions for the unhoused. Sigler adds that ongoing work doesn’t come without its own set of problems, but with winter coming the primary concern right now is safety.

That sentiment was echoed by fellow Legislator Shawna Black.

“Mike Sigler is absolutely right,” said Black. “I think over the past year, year-and-a-half, we have continued to have these really hard conversations and figure out what we’re going to do and where we’re going to go. We have reached out to hotels. You know, unfortunately, this population is very hard to house and there are reasons why we are no longer able to house people at the Econo Lodge. With that said, I think we’re doing the best we can do right now. We don’t have tons of resources; we don’t have tons of options. We are building the plane as its up in the air.”

County staff are working with New York State to determine what costs can be reimbursed.