The Ulster County Health, Human Services, and Human Rights Committee on Aug. 7 adopted Resolution 3 81 to amend the 2025 county budget and accept funds from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to support family-centered case management services administered by the Department of Social Services.
Deputy Commissioner Wood opened remarks saying the county was "extremely encouraged" to receive the funds for a second year, calling the Family Centered Services grant an OTDA initiative to help support families and individuals experiencing emergency homelessness and placements. The department said the program supports families, individuals with higher needs (mental health, developmental disabilities, substance use disorder), survivors of domestic violence, and those involved with preventive child-services or family treatment court. Laura Nordstrom, director of housing and homelessness, described contracting plans with Family of Woodstock and Repco and said the program would shift the Family of Woodstock presence at the Kingston Motel to services based out of an Albany Avenue facility, while maintaining outreach to motel residents under a Repco-style model.
The meeting included an extended public Q&A during which Legislator Eric Kitchen asked whether motel placements (for example, the Skytop/Roadway/Kingston Motel) would be replaced by permanent housing when new housing projects come online. Nordstrom and other staff said the goal is always to transition emergency-housing clients into permanent housing when matches are available; coordinated entry reforms and a new coordinated entry advisory committee were cited as tools being used to prioritize motel residents for openings. Nordstrom also said that in some cases placements outside the county have been needed and that the work is "very fluid" and dictated by need.
Kitchen and other legislators raised location and safety concerns about the Kingston Motel, including transportation access across Route 28, proximity to amenities, and fire/electrical safety when residents use hot plates and multiple appliances. Nordstrom and DSS staff said UCAT transportation has been implemented for clients placed at that motel and that the county provides food assistance, that Family Centered Case Management teams help transport families for appointments, and that seniors have been prioritized for developments such as Silver Gardens in Highland. On safety, staff said hotels must have standard inspections and certificates of occupancy and that specific older motels with unsafe electrics are an ongoing enforcement concern.
Legislator questions also asked about whether clients can decline placements and be sanctioned. DSS staff said there is no fixed numeric limit on declines; declines that relate to a client's specific needs are documented and not automatically sanctionable. The transcript records discussion but no policy change or formal amendment to placement policies was adopted in committee; the formal committee action was to accept OTDA funds and amend the budget.
The resolution passed by motion (moved by Legislator Harmon and seconded by Legislator McCullough) and was adopted by voice vote. The transcript does not show a roll-call tally or the OTDA award amount in the committee discussion.