POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Dutchess County Legislature approved a resolution authorizing the spending of $725,000 for the design, engineering, and construction services needed to develop a design and construction plans for a temporary emergency homeless shelter located at 150 N. Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie.
“After touring both the current temporary emergency housing facility known as the PODS and the 1995 section of the jail with my legislative colleagues from both sides of the aisle this afternoon, I am optimistic that we have a viable temporary alternative,” said Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver. “The 1995 section has the backbone for us to work off of to make it into a beneficial temporary location while we seek a permanent solution. It’s time we stopped sitting on our hands and started charting a path forward to help this vulnerable population.”
“We are taking steps to address community concerns through this process with the formation of the Community Stakeholder Group,” said Majority Leader William Truitt. “This group will aid us in the temporary undertaking and guide us into a permanent solution. After visiting the anticipated temporary location at 150 N. Hamilton, I believe that this building can offer the programming space and residential space that will best allow for individuals to transition to more independent and later permanent housing.”
The newly proposed site at the soon to be decommissioned section at 150 N. Hamilton Street will provide housing accommodations for approximately 140 individuals and will allow for ample programming space and meeting rooms for individuals to meet with case workers to develop a plan to further obtain permanent housing.
The County’s Capital Projects Manual of Policies and Procedures mandates when relating to design and construction plans for County owned properties is for the Legislature to approve funding for engineering and/or architecture plans before ultimately authorizing the fully estimated cost.
Individuals without housing are currently permitted to reside at the PODS, also located at 150 N. Hamilton Street in the City of Poughkeepsie, but they are nearing the end of their anticipated life expectancy and are due to be demolished due to the anticipated opening of the new Justice and Transition Center.
A stakeholder group composed of local elected representatives, municipal residents, business owners and clergy, is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, June 21st at 4 PM. Minority Leader Yvette Valdes-Smith appointed her representatives on May 30th and Majority Leader Will Truitt appointed his representatives on June 9th.
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