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Ulster County approves $5.0M in emergency housing additions as shelter costs surge
Summary
Lawmakers approved a combined $5.4 million in contract adjustments for Family of Woodstock to cover sharply rising motel and after‑hours shelter costs; officials cited comptroller snapshots showing emergency shelter costs climbing from $3.8M (2020) to $13.3M (2024) and described hundreds of emergency placements across two dozen motels.
Ulster County legislators approved two large emergency‑housing measures on Aug. 6: Resolution 4‑18, a $1.8 million contract amendment covering immediate and retroactive after‑hours placement costs, and Resolution 4‑19, a $3.6 million contract to consolidate Year‑Ahead after‑hours placements through Sept. 30 of next year.
County officials told the committee the comptroller’s snapshot indicated emergency shelter costs rose from $3.8 million in 2020 to $13.3 million in 2024. "In the most recent snapshot ... it indicated that our emergency shelter costs surged from 3,800,000 in 2020 to 13,300,000 in 2024," a county official said. Staff reported current operational numbers for after‑hours placements: about 20 motels with 362 reserved rooms accommodating approximately 550 unique individuals and roughly 393 emergency homeless cases.
Officials explained some placements are initially handled by Family of Woodstock while county casework is opened later — a timing issue that affects when reimbursements can be claimed. Staff said CodeBlue activations tied to extreme‑weather responses are expected to be reimbursed at 100%, and other program reimbursements (when a case opens) may cover a substantial share of costs; nonetheless, the county must pay invoices up front. Committee members questioned pacing and forecasting; staff said they project these contract amounts to cover the near term and that a subsequent contract (4‑19) would consolidate placements and billing for the next contract year.
Both resolutions passed after discussion and clarification of the scope, the projected reimbursements and the administrative steps the department is taking to expedite invoicing and capture eligible funds.
