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Finance committee accepts state shelter-arrears allocation and hears warming-center update
Summary
County social services accepted a New York State shelter-arrears allocation of $47,814 and briefed the committee on early usage and operational issues at a new Bath warming center, including average bed use, an on-site overdose that was treated, search procedures, and transportation for hotel placements.
Steuben County Social Services asked the finance committee to accept and appropriate a New York State shelter-arrears allocation of $47,814 intended to pay eligible arrears from Oct. 1, 2023 through Sept. 30, 2026. The committee approved the appropriation after staff explained eligibility rules tied to public-assistance thresholds.
Social services staff provided a substantive update on a new warming center in Bath. Staff said the center averaged about 13 residents per night in early operation (out of 20 beds) and that by the end of January one night saw 26 placements. Staff acknowledged a recent on-site overdose that was treated and revived and said they are reviewing the incident. Staff also explained intake procedures, saying individuals are searched on entry for contraband and weapons and that the warming center provides transportation as part of its contract; when clients are placed in hotels, the county provides bus tokens or taxis as needed and requires clients to return to county staff before additional vouchers are issued.
Committee members asked whether the warming-center model saves money compared with paying for hotel rooms and whether vendor issues with 211 call coverage had been addressed; staff said they are compiling several months of data to produce an apples-to-apples comparison and are working with the 211 vendor on outages.
