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Volunteers of America describes CodeBlue shelter operations, capacity and access gaps in Tompkins County
Summary
Volunteers of America told the Community Services Board it operates a CodeBlue shelter with an official 60‑bed capacity (peak nights expanded with extra mats), onsite case management and peer support, Narcan and harm‑reduction practices, but noted building accessibility limits and persistent gaps in adult dental care and Medicaid‑accepting dentists locally.
Lisa Barrett, director of housing and shelter services for Volunteers of America in Tompkins County, described VOA’s CodeBlue shelter operations to the Community Services Board on Jan. 8, emphasizing day‑to‑day services, staffing and service gaps. Barrett said VOA’s official capacity is 60 beds, and that staff have used additional floor space to accommodate higher nights (the meeting record includes a cited night of 55 occupants and Barrett said the shelter had 45 people the prior night).
Barrett described VOA’s on‑site supports: a case manager who connects clients to long‑term housing and accompanies people to DSS and appointments, and a peer specialist who provides lived‑experience advocacy. She credited those roles with helping move several clients into housing quickly and giving practical supports such as accompaniment to court and help securing treatment placements.
Operations described include client storage (one bag kept at the bed with additional locker storage when needed), showers, supervised laundry (prioritized for bed‑turnover and emergency clothing changes due to theft concerns), and hygiene kits provided on intake. Barrett said meals are a mix of staff-prepared items and community donations from groups such as local churches and a food-donation network.
On harm reduction, Barrett confirmed building staff keep Narcan on site and that partner groups provide clean‑needle exchange services. She described VOA’s therapeutic orientation as harm reduction‑oriented rather than strictly abstinence‑based, and said the approach helps staff meet clients where they are and reduce barriers to service engagement.
Board members probed accessibility. Barrett and other participants said the current CodeBlue site is not fully ADA‑compliant; in the interim, DSS has placed clients with accessibility needs in hotels, and the shelter provider and county partners are discussing renovations and longer‑term site choices. Barrett said VOA aims to accommodate people within those constraints and will explore future renovations or different facilities.
The board also discussed service gaps that affect clients’ health and housing stability: Tompkins County has few local dentists who accept Medicaid, making it difficult to obtain urgent dental care locally; participants said some clients must travel to Rochester or Broome County for dental procedures. Barrett and public‑health participants noted limitations in program eligibility for adult dental outreach tied to rural designations and funding rules.
Barrett recounted operational lessons—screening and scheduled transportation runs (one full‑time and one part‑time driver) to reduce misuse of rides, and staff training in trauma‑informed care, brief intervention and de‑escalation. She told the board VOA works closely with the county care team and local clinicians to place clients in safer sleeping areas and to support transitions out of encampments.
The meeting included no formal vote on shelter operations. Board members thanked Barrett for the update and asked VOA to continue coordination with county partners on accessibility, dental access and long‑term facility planning.
