This article was originally written and reported for COM 235: Intro to Media Literacy by Anne Austin, Ava Froio, Chiara Graziano, Logan Kowalski, Sofia Mucci, Benjamin Russell, and Nuala Seabrook.
When thinking of Cortland, it is easy to think of the bustling college campus, nature trails, rich history, popular restaurants, bars, shops, and people out and about enjoying all that the city has to offer.
Even with all of these positive things happening in Cortland, the city has been facing a significant struggle in combating the unhoused crisis, which has become a prevalent topic among residents, and the campus community alike.
Public officials, students and business owners in Cortland have all acknowledged the issues encompassed in being unhoused. Solutions that they’ve come up with vary but are all temporary, which includes shelters and food donation programs.
Executive Director of the Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Shawna Grinnell defines being unhoused as “a state of being without a permanent or stable residence, often resulting from poverty, lack of affordable housing, or other social and economic factors.”
Being unhoused isn’t just the lack of shelter, either. It can take many different forms. Some unhoused residents of Cortland “live paycheck to paycheck,” as Grinnell points out.
The COVID pandemic completely exacerbated the resources of many vital public services. There was a moratorium on rent payments, which essentially delayed rent payments for tenants in New York, to help them cope with the financial burdens of the pandemic.
After that moratorium was up, Grinnell says that many tenants were unable to pay rent, which “caused numerous evictions and an increase in homelessness.”
The unhoused situation was already at an all-time high in the city and “jumped 52% since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic” according to Margaret Mellot of the Cortland Standard in her article Homelessness costs
Mellot stated “between 40% and 60% of homeless people have jobs.” The problem is “[buying in bulk] costs more up front” and is “more difficult to transport” when you don’t have a space to store the items.
The unhoused crisis in Cortland is impacting local businesses, creating operational challenges and deterring customers, according to employees in the area.
One downtown employee detailed the effects, noting that the presence of unhoused individuals often leads to disruptions that discourage customer visits. The employee explained that while interactions were not typically aggressive, they did create a sense of discomfort among customers. This would often cause them to leave sooner than expected, directly impacting sales.
“These folks would come into the store, wasting employee time, not harass but ‘annoy’ customers, making them feel uneasy and ultimately leading to them leaving or shortening their visit and effectively reducing our ability to sell products,” the employee said.
The issue extends beyond the storefront, with individuals gathering behind buildings to use drugs or hide personal belongings.
According to the employee, these activities often necessitate additional security measures, requiring employees to monitor the premises and occasionally call the police.
“Ultimately, they caused a general interruption to our daily operations,” he said. “Having employees chasing after these people takes away from effectively helping the customer and generating sales.”
Efforts to combat the unhoused crisis in the City of Cortland have been developing within the past few months. Community leaders have put forth an effort to combine ideas to implement systems that will help the unhoused population.
In addition to her job with Cortland Housing Assistance Council, Grinnell is a member of a local coalition to combat homelessness. She says that multiple factors have contributed to the city seeing higher homelessness rates.
“The homeless situation in Cortland is getting worse,” Grinnell said. “A lack of affordable housing, substance abuse issues, mental health issues, government funding and regulations all [are] major contributing factors.”
There have been ongoing efforts to secure a space for the unhoused population where they can have a place to sleep, clean up and eat. Grinnell pointed out how the community has been an obstacle to overcome in securing a space for this to happen.
“Many people (Cortland community members) are resistant to the idea of a shelter or other homeless services being located in their neighborhood,” said Grinnell.
A huge move in creating solutions in this situation, was the creation of a coalition of community members and representatives that are educated on this issue. Grinnell is part of this coalition, and through collaborative efforts, they aim to create solutions to alleviate the ailments for the unhoused community.
The biggest achievement of this coalition so far, and arguably the most progressive move in combating this issue, was the creation of the Grace Space.
“The Grace Space is a temporary shelter and resource center for homeless individuals,” Grinnell said. “It is located in the basement of a church and provides a safe and warm space for individuals to rest, eat, and access resources. The Grace Space is a result of the coalition’s efforts and is expected to open on November 4th.”
Initiatives are in motion to address Cortland’s rising homelessness problem. With the establishment of this coalition, the flow of combined ideas has been crucial in creating the Grace Space as a valuable resource for the unhoused population, and will hopefully reduce tensions between the unhoused and the rest of the Cortland community.
When the SUNY Cortland student Hunter Garcia walks to get her afternoon coffee from Bru located on Main Street, she typically will notice the unhoused folk who contribute to the everyday life around downtown and the on-campus dumpsters.
Garcia has compassion for the unhoused as opposed to fear. She believes they have a right to shelter.
“If we’re already around them and they are causing no harm, they should have a place to go,” Garcia said.
Garcia acknowledges that although she may feel comfortable with establishing a housing area for the unhoused, that does not mean all people of Cortland are.
The locals of Cortland expressed concerns about location as well as the fears portrayed along the stigma associated with the unhoused.
“I feel like people are against having homeless housing near their neighborhoods because homeless people often carry a stereotype that they’re violent or do drugs,” said Garcia,
The other stereotype Garcia notes is that there is a stigma about the unhoused feeling unwelcome in public places, whether it be rest or warmth they are still met with suspicion.
“I do feel like homeless people feel unwelcomed because oftentimes when a homeless person enters a building, they look suspicious, or they are asked to leave,” Garcia said.
According to Matt Whiteman, the executive director of the Rural Health Institute of New York, excluding the unhoused in public spaces reinforces a message more than just belonging, it communicates the stigma that pushes the unhoused further away from society.
Now, a student like Hunter Garcia who believes in taking small steps to create a more welcoming atmosphere for the unhoused could make a substantial difference to the Cortland community.
Housing situations in small towns like Cortland, NY, are often overlooked but remain a persistent issue. Local residents, including college students, witness the impact on a daily basis. Tyler Ngyuen, a sophomore at SUNY Cortland, says he has seen unhoused people when he walks around the town of Cortland, and some areas are more persistent than others.
“I see a lot of homeless people down by Main Street,” says Ngyuen. “My first thought is I feel really bad for them. During the winters here, it gets really cold, and without shelter, food, and water, it can be really difficult for them.”
Nyguen gives a good point, during winters in Cortland, the average temperature is around 20 degrees. For human beings to be living outside in these conditions, with little to no extra warmth besides the clothes on their backs is an inhumane way to live.
These harsh winters in Cortland magnify the challenges for the homeless population, making shelter and community support essential. While resources are available, they are limited.
Matt Whiteman, executive director of the Rural Health Institute of New York, said, “The homeless situation in Cortland is getting worse, with a lack of affordable housing being a major contributing factor.”
There are efforts underway to provide more support to familys that cannot provide funds for homes. “I’ve heard that the library is trying to facilitate and create a program for the homeless,” Ngyuen adds.
Community involvement is also crucial to making a meaningful impact. Tyler believes that “we can generally build more awareness to the issue and maybe facilitate and donate to the facilities.”
With increasing awareness and resources, Cortland could take steps toward addressing unhoused people in a compassionate and effective way. Solutions could include expanded shelter options, mental health services, and long-term housing initiatives. As Nguyen suggests, it takes a whole community to ensure that all residents, housed or unhoused, have the support they need, especially during tough winters.