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Letter to the Editor: Homelessness in Cortland

Special Contribution to the Dragon Chronicle · January 30, 2025

To the Editor:

It is surely good news that since November 2023 through April 2024, there is now both the Night Time Warming Center (Salvation Army) and the community-funded day time warming space (Grace/Holy Spirit Church [formerly space for the Unhoused at the Cortland Free Library]), covering 24/7, serving Folks Without Homes who can be out of the present very cold. 
      But, this is only for November through April and as any camper/sports person can tell you, it sure does get cold during the night May through October, as well!  
      Should now be a time when we start planning for the other six months of the year when folks need night time shelter? as we began to in January 2024 for a November to April daytime warm space?  So that very poor people no longer need to try to find a place to lay their heads to escape the cold of night and risk being arrested on the spot without receiving the warning you or I might receive?  Will religious/non-profits/individuals/College once again join together, this time for a night time warm space May—October 2025?  
      At a time when secured housing grants have been put on hold for low income Citizens:  Seniors, Low Income Folks, People Without Homes (for example, Catholic Charities [Seniors], YWCA [apartments for 30 Low Income and 30 Homeless], Mayor Scott Steve secured grant for City of Cortland Transitional Housing [40 rooms]—all on hold)?  
And, might Religious, Non-Profits, Educators/Students and others join together to apply NOW to fill in this void by applying for NYS ESSHI and other grants to help those less fortunate secure a place to live?  

       “There, but for the Grace of God, go I ?”

Pamela L.  Poulin, PhD
former SUNY Faculty
Professor Emeritus
The Johns Hopkins University

~A Concerned Citizen of Cortland County~

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