Residents urge Sullivan County to pursue state grant for Gateway Housing emergency shelter

Several residents urged Sullivan County legislators to pursue a state grant and move forward with the Gateway Housing Project, a proposed emergency shelter they said would provide wraparound services and reduce repeated short-term shelter costs.

Lou Setra, a year-round Liberty resident, told the committee he had reviewed a presentation by Commissioner Little about the Gateway Housing Project and urged the county to apply for the state grant being offered. Setra said the county spent nearly $4 million in 2024 to find emergency beds for people experiencing homelessness and described the proposed 20-bed facility as a cost-effective alternative that could serve 80 to 100 people a year through 24/7 staffing and wraparound services provided by a lessee with experience.

Another resident speaking during public comment described the trauma of homelessness in the community and urged legislators not to let political concerns override the need for a stable year-round facility that could triage and navigate people into longer-term solutions.

Legislators responded that many of them agree on the need for such a facility and noted there are grant funds available; several members urged staff to continue pursuing appropriate sites and grant applications. Committee members did not take a final vote on siting or awarding a lease at the meeting; they discussed the grant opportunity and the need to identify locations that a majority of legislators would support.

Speakers emphasized that pursuing the state grant would keep local tax dollars from being redirected to other communities if the county declined to apply. Commenters and legislators said the proposal would not be a quick fix and will require finding an appropriate site and operator, but they characterized the grant application as an opportunity to reduce long-term costs and expand shelter capacity.