THOMPSON — Last Thursday’s Sullivan County Legislature meeting at the Sullivan County Government Center in Monticello became ensnared in contentious debate over a Local Law that would authorize a lease of county-owned lands for the purpose of constructing a homeless shelter on Pittaluga Rd. in the Town of Thompson. 

The legislators voted 5-2 with Amanda Ward and Nicholas Salamone Jr. opposing; causing the Local Law authorizing a lease of county-owned lands for the purpose of operating a homeless shelter to fail to pass without a super majority of 6 votes.

Despite its failure to pass, District 2 and Legislature Chair Nadia Rajsz said there will be a revote at some point on the proposed lease, “because a shelter is critically needed in Sullivan County, and the $8 million in State funding that we need to build it won’t be available for much longer.” 

The first objection was raised by District 7 Legislator and Vice-Chair Joseph Perrello, who said, “Sullivan County, I think, is saturated with shelters…and truthfully, it’s not helping the community.”

“We can’t afford to do this,” he went on. “I’d rather invest in the places we have already than invest in new properties.” 

On the other hand, Legislator Cat Scott showed support of the law.

“Right now when someone is experiencing a housing crisis and they have nowhere to go, we put them in a hotel…we’ve known for years that’s not a good solution,” she said. “It costs a lot of money to the county, it is not a good place for people to be, especially families.” 

Scott explained that they’ve been discussing a shelter for years and that this location was chosen because it is close to services and is on the public transportation route. 

Scott said, “[the location] makes it easier to bring these folks to services so then they can get up off their feet and they can be transitioned to permanent housing. The goal is always permanent housing.”

Perrello went on to inquire what funds does the county have, how much is the project and what’s coming out of taxpayers’ pockets?

Commissioner of Health and Human Services John Liddle said that the county will be competing for a grant from the Homeless Housing Assistance Program of New York to help answer those questions. 

“We anticipate applying for $8 million from New York State,” Liddle said, noting that the county would be responsible for site preparation, and that the construction of the building itself is $8 million.

County Manager Joshua Potosek clarified that “the lease is with HONOR (Helping Others Needing Our Resources; a private not-for-profit social services agency)…we’re gonna construct it, they’re gonna operate it.”

District 8 Legislator Amanda Ward asked, “Could a single mom with a child, a baby, could they [live there]?”

Liddle responded, “No, we would not put children there.”

Ward cited unanswered questions, the need to include families in the project, and also the location, which is in Ward’s District, as reasons for dissent. 

Concerns raised over location

During the public hearing on the Local Law, several members of the public voiced concern over the proposed shelter’s proximity to a large community of families. 

Shana Lebowitz, a resident on Pittaluga Road, said, “I have five kids, my friends in our development, they have an average of six kids in each unit.” 

Leibowitz expressed concern that her community’s children would be put in danger if the lease for the homeless shelter went forward.

Why not just rehab Knight’s Inn?

HONOR’s Executive Director Chris Molinelli addressed the Legislature and outlined his previous successes as a manager of social service facilities. When Perrello asked Molinelli if he would consider rehabilitating the Knight’s Inn as an alternative to the construction of a new building, he responded, “I believe that the plan that this legislature is discussing and voting on is the best way to go. Rehabbing buildings is going to cost you much more, I assure you that.” 

He mentioned the repairs his Middletown location required during the rehabilitation of an old psychiatric ward; he said he could have built a new building for much cheaper.

Liddle praised the efforts of Molinelli and his agency.

“HONOR has earned a reputation for effectively guiding shelter guests into permanent housing and treating everyone with the respect they deserve…Evidence from other communities is clear; when shelters are well managed and properly placed, they improve not only the lives of the guests but also the quality of life in the community surrounding.”