County accepts $322,466 state rental-supplement funds and leases office to Shelters of Saratoga

Saratoga County supervisors on May 13 accepted $322,466 in rental supplement allocations from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance and approved a county office lease with Shelters of Saratoga Inc.

County Department of Social Services officials said the funding will provide rental supplements to individuals and families experiencing homelessness or facing imminent loss of housing; the department estimates the allocation can support up to 44 households annually. The presentation said supplements currently average $681 per household per month and that the total monthly cost for supported households would be about $21,000. Those supplements are in addition to other DSS program assistance.

Separately, the committee authorized a three-year lease for Shelters of Saratoga Inc. for county-owned space at 96 Boston Avenue in Saratoga Springs to serve as the organization's general administrative office. The lease rate is $1,000 per month plus utilities and certain maintenance costs; the initial three-year term will commence on the date of occupancy, no later than July 1, 2025, and includes a one-time two-year renewal option by mutual agreement. The county also authorized a temporary access agreement allowing Shelters to enter adjacent county-owned vacant lots to conduct evaluation activities related to property development; the county completed an environmental review and issued a negative declaration for the action.

Both actions passed by voice vote during the meeting; supervisors recorded no opposition in the meeting minutes. The county stated the rental supplements have been effective at preventing homelessness when combined with other DSS assistance.