Warren County committee OKs $250,000 settlement appropriation, approves intent to use Gurnee Lane building as family shelter

Warren County’s Human Services Committee voted Feb. 27 to appropriate $250,000 to cover settlement costs and approved moving forward with plans to use a vacant building on Gurnee Lane as a family shelter, directing staff to develop a request for proposals to identify an operator.

The appropriation request, presented by department staff, would move $250,000 from the fund balance coded to “assigned abuse lawsuits” (code A918) to the social services settlements account (code A6010). Supervisor Turner moved the appropriation and Supervisor Runyon seconded it; the committee approved the motion by voice vote.

The second action approved the county’s intent to use the vacant building on Gurnee Lane as a family shelter and authorized staff to begin the next steps: preparing an RFP with the Purchasing Department, assessing building modifications with Buildings and Grounds and DPW (including Kevin Hajos), consulting the County Attorney’s Office, identifying a nonprofit operator and pursuing funding. Nina, the department presenter, said, “This is just the approval for the intent of the use of a family shelter,” and that further approvals would be sought as the plan develops.

Committee members pressed for details. Nina said the state had inspected the building and indicated “we could probably serve 3 to 4 families” in the building as currently configured, and emphasized the county’s intent to keep the shelter relatively small to support transition into permanent housing. She also said the county currently places families in emergency shelter and reported, “so right now, we have 29 families in temporary housing.”

Committee members asked about likely construction costs and funding. Nina said a detailed concept and cost estimate will be developed once a provider and programming needs are defined. She noted the state’s Homeless Housing Assistance Program (HHAP) is an available funding source for construction and related costs and that awards under that program can be large (the department cited a $15,000,000 upper figure for what HHAP can cover). Nina added the provider would “be a not for profit who has experience in operating a shelter.”

The county administrator told the committee the Facilities Committee would need to discuss the property because the county never formally closed out plans for the Joseph Warren Museum on that site; the administrator said previous efforts had not reduced the museum’s projected cost below $700,000 and that museum artifacts had been moved to a Connecticut university. Several supervisors asked that the Facilities Committee review and formally close or repurpose prior museum plans before finalizing building disposition.

Committee members and staff framed the proposal in the context of increasing family homelessness in the region. Nina and others said the department is seeing about double the number of homeless families compared with prior levels, that motel placements have lengthened, and that a county-run family shelter would reduce reliance on motels and centralize services. Committee members also noted Washington County municipalities (Hudson Falls and Fort Edward) have placed people in Warren County hotels, tightening local motel capacity.

Next steps identified by the committee: staff will develop a concept paper and RFP with Purchasing and Buildings and Grounds, work with DPW and the County Attorney’s Office on any legal or construction requirements, and return to the committee or full board for approvals as details — including operating provider selection and grant applications — are firmed up.