ITHACA, NY (607NewsNow) – Tompkins County has acquired property for a permanent homeless shelter in Ithaca.

On Tuesday, November 26, county officials announced the intended $1.1 million purchase of 227 Cherry Street, a one-acre parcel on the city’s west end. Over a dozen locations were considered, but the Cherry Street site was ultimately chosen due to its proximity to existing homeless encampments and service providers.

Tompkins County and the City of Ithaca have been without a permanent shelter since the closure of Saint John’s Community Services earlier this month.

“This is one piece of a larger puzzle,” said Legislator Travis Brooks, whose district includes 227 Cherry Street. “When people are struggling, they don’t want services scattered all around the community; they want to be able to get help when they’re ready. I see a future where we can do that, bring support for people without a place to call home into a more central area, while we hopefully make a dent and reduce the number of people who are homeless and in our system. The county will play a significant role in offering resources, but it’ll be our community and the agencies that can do the work and make the biggest difference.”

The county, which has an additional $1 million in its Capital Program for the local share of development costs, is contracting MM Development Advisors (MMDA) to help with the project. MMDA is experienced in developing shelter facilities and will help county officials and community partners execute their vision.

Additionally, officials say the county will apply for up to $6.1 million in development funding from New York State’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program in 2025.

“Hundreds of people experience homelessness in Tompkins County in a given year,” said Tompkins County Legislative Chair Dan Klein at Tuesday’s press conference. “Nearly one-third of people experiencing homelessness reported returning to homelessness after securing a permanent destination. Outcomes are worse for young people, people of color, people with disabilities, and people experiencing mental health crises. 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.”

The Tompkins County Legislature is expected to vote on the final acquisition of the property at its meeting on Tuesday, December 3rd, 2024.