Tompkins County will open this winter’s Code Blue shelter at its property on 227 Cherry Street in Ithaca, following a vote by the county legislature on Tuesday, September 16.
The shelter will provide emergency overnight housing when temperatures drop below 32 degrees with wind chill. Officials say the Cherry Street site offers the quickest and most affordable option to ensure people experiencing homelessness have a safe place to go during freezing weather.
Last year’s Code Blue location, the former KeyBank building, is scheduled for demolition later this fall. County leaders had also considered using the former Burger King on Route 13, where the City of Ithaca plans to build its Navigation Hub, but found that the project would be too costly and too slow to be ready for the start of winter. Renovations there were estimated between $600,000 and $750,000, compared to roughly $100,000 in upgrades needed at Cherry Street.
Because the county already owns the Cherry Street property, officials say they can move more quickly to set up a safe, supervised shelter while continuing long-term planning for a permanent facility. The site also has enough space to potentially host both the Code Blue shelter and the city’s Navigation Hub this winter.
Using Cherry Street this season will not delay construction of the county’s planned purpose-built emergency shelter. The county has selected Volunteers of America Upstate New York (VOA) as its partner in developing and operating that project, and is in discussions with VOA about running the Cherry Street shelter this winter as well.
Legislature Chair Dan Klein said the decision balanced urgency with cost:
“Our job is to protect people on the first freezing night and to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Cherry Street delivers both, and we welcome the city to join us there with its Navigation Hub.”
County Administrator Korsah Akumfi said the move puts people first:
“We chose the option that gets people indoors sooner, because the people who need a warm, safe place come first. Cherry Street lets us open quickly and put resources where they matter most: people.”
Facilities Director Arel LeMaro stressed the cost savings, while Commissioner of Social Services Brittanie Earle said the focus is on “doors open, trained staff in place, and a humane, low-barrier shelter available when it’s needed most.”
VOA President and CEO Dr. Junior Dillion called the partnership an opportunity to extend the organization’s long history of providing essential services across Upstate New York.
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