Tompkins County approves applying for $15 million state grant to build homeless shelter on Cherry Street

Tompkins County officials have taken a significant step toward addressing local homelessness by approving a resolution to apply for a $15 million state grant to construct a new homeless shelter on Cherry Street. The three-story building, estimated to cost $18 million in total, is expected to begin construction in 2028. The resolution, passed unanimously during the county legislature’s consent agenda, authorizes the county to submit an application to the Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HAAP), a state initiative aimed at providing housing for individuals experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Administered by the New York State Office of Temporary Disability Assistance, the HAAP grant is designed to fund the construction, acquisition, or rehabilitation of housing for vulnerable populations. The county will cover the remaining $3 million not covered by the grant, including the purchase of the property for $1.1 million, furniture costs of approximately $700,000, and other development expenses. If the grant is not awarded, the county may need to adjust its plans for the next funding cycle.

During the April 21 county legislature meeting, a resident expressed concerns about using state funds to build a new shelter rather than renovating an existing structure. Legislator Veronica Pillar addressed these concerns, noting that prior to announcing the project, county staff evaluated alternatives and concluded that a new building would be the most effective and economical solution for providing permanent shelter. “While there is local dollar investment into building the new building, a nice thing about applying for the HHPA funds is — should we get the grant — it’s mostly state dollars, not local, which we love to spend, preferably,” Pillar explained.

County Administrator Korsah Akumfi stated that the application is “very close to getting ready.” Until the new shelter is operational, the county continues to rely heavily on motels to house individuals. Even after the shelter opens, some residents will still be placed in motels, as the proposed facility will exclusively serve adults. Discussions about developing a shelter for children and families have occurred, but county officials currently have no plans to pursue such a project.

County Communications Director Monika Salvage noted that the county will continue to contract with hotels to house families and provide support services, including family case management, to assist them in transitioning to permanent housing. The resolution also authorized the county to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with Volunteers of America (VOA), though details of this partnership were not disclosed in the source material.

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