PLACE FOR SHELTER
New address for homeless Saratoga Springs residents during COVID-19 outbreak
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y.
» It is one thing for life to be put on hold with a roof over your head during the Novel Coronavirus outbreak.
It is quite another to be homeless, with all your earthly possessions in bags and no four walls to call home for the foreseeable future, while trying to maintain some semblance of emotional and physical health and well being.
The coronavirus pandemic has heaped even greater demands on the shoulders of homeless city and county residents and the support service workers with whom they interact in many ways.
On the forefront of addressing those needs in the City of Saratoga Springs and throughout Saratoga County are organizations such as Shelters of Saratoga (S.O.S.), the two case management shelters located at 14 Walworth St., and its affiliated Code Blue Emergency Winter Shelter, a low-barrier initiative that is still actively seeking a permanent location in the City.
Since its inception in December of 2013, Code Blue has operated as a collaborative effort between the City of Saratoga Springs, faith-based groups, individuals and non-profit partners committed to
provide shelter to individuals who are homeless from Nov. 15-April 1, when the temperature drops below 32 degrees.
This winter, it has been temporarily located at 4 Adelphi St., just off South Broadway until Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly convened a special meeting of the City Council on March 16 at which a unanimous motion passed to designate the Saratoga Springs Senior Center, at 5 William St. as the location of the interim site of the Code Blue shelter during the specter of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Leased from the City, the building could be accessed on an emergency basis and designated as a shelter, which is what occurred this week as officials moved operations to serve the 55 to 61 Code Blue guests to Williams Street, in an effort to house that vulnerable population indoors as much as possible throughout the duration of the outbreak.
The Saratoga Springs Senior Center has closed for that same period as the illness runs its course through the area.
That facility has large gathering spaces that enable cots for guests to be placed at the mandated six foot distance, in an alternating head to foot configuration to minimize any spread of illness in separate rooms for men and women, six restrooms to better facilitate good hygiene, and an open space kitchen and dining area.
On Tuesday, with the help of SOS staff, volunteers and board members, the latest relocation of Code Blue began from Adelphi Street to William Street. The following conversation with S.O.S. Executive Director Karen Gregory took place at the main Walworth Street facility. Gregory spoke at length about the needs of the population she and her staff serve, the hours and practical reality of making that happen, and her gratitude for the sacrifices her staff have made as they work unconventional hours to serve and protect the health and well being of both homeless Saratogians and the public at large.
••• Let’s start from the beginning, Karen. We’re in the midst of the Coronavirus outbreak here in the United States, while here in Saratoga
Springs we have residents who had a pre-existing crisis, in that the 55 to 61 people that you are aware of that seek shelter on a regular basis now have to also cope in a global viral pandemic.
Please tell the readers what has occurred since Mayor Kelly moved to make this relocation happen after Monday’s unanimous City Council vote to approve access to Code Blue to the Saratoga Springs Senior Center to bring operations into compliance with directives in place to practice social distancing.
Gregory: “Throughout this pandemic and the concerns about it here, I’ve been in daily contact with the Mayor and discussing ideas. Last Thursday, prior to her calling for a special meeting on Monday, Mayor Kelly asked “What do you need? How can we make this better for the population you’re serving?” She was aware that at the Adelphi location, we can’t provide the prescribed six feet apart.
“They already have fragile health. Mayor Kelly made a phone call and asked me “Would you be comfortable moving into the Saratoga Springs Senior Center?”
••• Let’s be specific about what that means here. You’re dealing at Adelphi Street with a small open, mixed space, men and women all together, with cots that have to be spaced six feet apart, placed alternately head to feet.
At the Senior Center, there are rooms large enough to accommodate men in one space, women in another and there are six restrooms where people can maintain the hygiene so important to everyone’s health right now. We’re asking readers to grasp what the options have been until this move, let alone during a pandemic.
Gregory: “We learned that the senior center had been vacated, so it made perfect sense.” ••• We understand that throughout, you were dealing with two vulnerable populations: the seniors and the homeless. Somehow, by grace, that building was vacated, but the place where the seniors gathered, socialized, remained connected and held events was no longer the best place for them to avoid a health risk. The entire senior center is being scrubbed and as made germ proof as possible, allowing you to be in compliance with all the health directives.
Gregory: “I went there with a couple of staff members on Tuesday and immediately saw that we could provide the six foot separation, there are more bathrooms, more sinks, and we can separate people because there are more rooms as opposed to one at Adelphi. It works.
“Mayor Kelly took care of everything she needed to do to make that happen. It’s City owned property.”
••• That’s the miracle part of this story; there was a place ready to go to meet the need. I understand that guests will be asked to stay inside for this interim.
Gregory: “Yes; we will be open 24/7, seven days a week. The guests are going to be encouraged to stay indoors with us. The more people that exit the building and have contact with the outside world can mean bringing germs in. We want to minimize that.”
••• At a time when the guests are already dealing with so much, this is a little bit more. For readers who may not remember when you first came on board at S.O.S. you have a police background. Where were you a police officer?
Gregory: “In Greene and Columbia counties, and I was the director at Columbia Greene Domestic Violence (DV). One of the great things about my experience with the police and with DV, is you have a lot of contact, obviously. We have a great relationship here in Saratoga , so I knew immediately when I came up here that I wanted to foster collaboration with the police department.
“I’ve worked very closely with Saratoga Springs Chief of Police Shane Crooks and Assistant Chief of Police John Catone, who has been a wonderful resource. We’ve been working together.”
••• You speak the same language. Many things can factor into people becoming homeless; there are occurrences like unexpected evictions, as I heard from Robin Mattison, who recently experienced that and is staying at Code Blue.
She shared with me about her job search, trying to get work at AIM Services, Wesley Health Care Center, or one of the Home of the Good Shepherd residences and to take a CA course. She said she was grateful she has somewhere to stay for now.
It appears from our visits to all three facilities today that you are working hard to stay ahead of all this for the homeless residents of Saratoga Springs. What can people do to help? What does S.O.S. need right now?
Gregory: “We have two emergency shelters on Walworth Street as well as Code Blue, so we’re reaching out to the homeless members of our community that don’t come inside, that are living in tents and motels, in parking garages, and getting them the information about how serious this pandemic is is a challenge.
“They’re not watching the news, getting the updates, many don’t have cell phones with news running on them. We’re educating them, and trying to give them tools to keep themselves safe. We encourage them to come inside, but some people choose not to do that.”
••• Let’s talk about expectations or assumptions people have of someone who is homeless. We’re expecting things of people who don’t have the blessing of access to private bathrooms. They are having to rely on going into local stores. or businesses to be as hygienic as they can under the circumstances. Having a facility with six bathrooms to keep up with their health and well-being is very important right now.
Gregory: “What I really want the community to know is this is one of the most fragile populations during this pandemic. A lot of them have illnesses, such as COPD, asthma, or chronic issues going on that makes them fragile. We’re trying to reach them and keep them safe.
“At the same time, my staff can’t work remotely. We’re all here, everyday, working extended hours in the trenches, side by side with the community we’re supporting. I am blown away by how wonderful my staff is and by the support we have received from the community at large.”
“They have families, this is a risk for all of them as well. We have to constantly remember our mission to take care of the most vulnerable population and we will continue to do that.”
••• Do you know where Code Blue will be located after the outbreak is resolved?
Gregory: “I’m hoping the weather goes into the 50’s and 60’s and stays there. We have about a year and six months left on the lease there.
“Recently, in Saratoga, we have formed the Saratoga Collaborative to End Homelessness (SCEH). One of our focuses is to start a navigation center where we could have numerous agencies in one place. We could stop sending the most vulnerable people all over the county, and bring services to the people who need them. This center would include housing, DSS, Mental Health, and other entities.
“My goal is to end homeless and get everyone housed. I think Saratoga needs to understand we’re going to be doing things differently around homelessness. Everyone is working in “silos” (independent agencies) in Saratoga, but we haven’t come together collaboratively.”
••• Saratoga County is known for meeting to combine resources. You’d welcome that to combat homelessness, wouldn’t you?
Gregory: “I would love to have the County more involved; they’re a big player and they need to be at the table. And Saratoga County Mental Health, as well. We’re not as effective as we could be with them. Even though we’re in the City, the County has a very big responsibility in this. We have to work together. The City gets it, and has helped enormously.
“We all know we are just putting band aids on hemorrhages and the bleed just continues.”
“I had a meeting with the guests going over all the guidelines that are out there-hand washing, turn to sneeze into your arm or a tissue. Thankfully, in all three shelters, no one is presenting with symptoms.
“Right now we have financial needs. I still have to pay my staff. We need thermometers badly, disinfectants, hand sanitizers, bleach. Some of the S.O.S. guests lost their jobs because the service industries have shut down. They’re not getting paid now. We have apartment programs and people won’t be able to pay their rent.”
••• Director of Development and Marketing, Rosemary Royce: “Monetary donations are being accepted to make sure we can continue providing services, keep our doors open and provide shelter to those who need it, regardless of whether they’re working or not until everyone can get back on their feet. We don’t have the same sources of income that we would with campaigns and events, given so much economical uncertainty.
“Businesses and individuals we relied on are feeling their own uncertainty. We’re looking to the public to help bridge the gap.”
Gregory: “We receive some reimbursement from Social Services (DSS). I understand that there are changes in their operations; obviously I’m concerned about the possibility of delayed reimbursements. That expense could fall on us.”
••• Financial contributions should be made out to Shelters of Saratoga for both S.O.S. and Code Blue. If you have a preference of where your gift should be directed, please indicate that. Donations can be made online at https://sheltersofsaratoga.z2systems.com/np/clients/sheltersofsaratoga/ donation.jsp or by mail to Shelters of Saratoga, 14 Walworth Street, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Phone: (518) 581-1097
S.O.S. Wish List: http://sheltersofsaratoga.org/ help-us/wish-list/
To Volunteer: http://sheltersofsaratoga.org/help-us/volunteer/