A recent study from state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli shows that homelessness in recent York has more than doubled in the previous two years, just as a local philanthropic organization undertakes a project to investigate the homeless issue in the Elmira area.
Catholic Charities of Chemung & Schuyler intends to conduct public interviews focused on where people slept on a certain “point-in-time” – Thursday, January 23.
The study is being conducted in a five-county region as a prerequisite for federal financing from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, and it is being carried out in collaboration with CARES (Crisis Assistance Response Emergency Shelter) Inc.
The study is a concerted effort within a certain region to count the number of people suffering homelessness on a specific day, in this case January 23. Catholic Charities’ financing is closely related to the study’s completion.
“It is critical to raise awareness about our communities’ funding needs in order to ensure service availability for our most vulnerable neighbors,” said Suzi Fritz, Director of Emergency Services at Catholic Charities.
Catholic Charities workers will conduct interviews in Chemung and Schuyler counties, with the assistance of community organizations and local food pantries. The public can also help with the process. Anyone who believes they know where people who may be homeless are staying can contact 607-317-5759 and leave a message with their location.
The number of homeless children climbed from 20,299 in 2022 to 50,773 in 2024, according to a report released by DiNapoli’s office on Wednesday. An influx of immigrants accounts for a significant portion of this increase.
“New York has long had a housing affordability crisis, and more families are running out of options and ending up on the street or in shelters,” he said. “Many of the tens of thousands of asylum seekers that came to New York had no place to stay and drove up spending and a large portion of the growth of the homeless population.”
The problem affects towns throughout the state, not just New York City, DiNapoli stated.
Homeless figures in Chemung and Schuyler counties
According to Catholic Charities, in 2024, 1,638 people experienced homelessness and received services in Chemung County, 331 of whom were under the age of 18. In Schuyler County, 77 homeless people got services.
Catholic Charities collaborates with the Chemung County Department of Social Services to provide a homeless shelter at 160 High St. in Elmira. The building features a warming station to help homeless people and others deal with the harsh winter weather.
Catholic Charities reported that 339 homeless people enrolled in assistance in Chemung County between January 1 and January 17, 2024. That figure for the same time period this year is 195, and the impending point-in-time census is intended to provide officials a better understanding of how many homeless people are in the neighborhood but not receiving help.
The agency also wants to remind residents that they can contribute to efforts to help the homeless population by providing necessary supplies. Grocery gift cards, personal hygiene products, caps, gloves, hand/foot warmers, and transit tokens are among the goods on the list.
Donations can be sent to Catholic Charities’ Samaritan Center, 380 S. Main St. in Elmira, between 8:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday through Friday, or the Schuyler Outreach Food Pantry, 112 10th St. in Watkins Glen, between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, and noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays.
Monetary gifts can be made online at CatholicCharitiesCS.org (designate homeless services) or addressed to 215 East Church St., Elmira, New York 14901.
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