OBSERVER Photo by Christopher Blakeslee
Homeless and unhoused individuals under the Main Street Viaduct and along the Riverwalk appear to be growing in numbers. Mayor Kim Ecklund believes there are between 200 to 300 individuals within the city who are unhoused.
JAMESTOWN — Some residents are inquiring as to the next step in dealing with homeless encampments that have metamorphosed along the Riverwalk and other locations during the last two years.
Since the state of emergency declaration, issued by Jamestown Mayor Kim Ecklund on July 25 regarding the estimated 200 to 300 homeless and unhoused individuals who’ve erected make-shift shanties in the city, area officials are calling for more state and federal government support.
“There are critical public health and safety concerns as a result of the current situation, and they will only worsen without intervention and assistance,” wrote state Sen. George M. Borrello, R-Sunset Bay. “The scope of the problem is beyond the capacity of a small city and rural county with limited resources to handle on their own. That is why I sent a letter to Governor Hochul underscoring my support for Mayor Ecklund’s request and urging the state to respond. In the meantime, I appreciate how hard city personnel are working to keep the public safe, clean up public spaces and maintain order in this difficult situation.”
As Borrello indicated — without intervention and assistance, the situation will only worsen. It has become a prophetic omen of sorts.
In a recent interview with WRFA, Ecklund stated, “The vast amount and quantity of needles is scary.”
Ecklund was referring to the numerous hypodermic needles that have been found littered about the area near the Riverwalk, which bumps up against Brooklyn Square. “There have been between 300 and 500 calls for service in that area for trespassing since the beginning of the year,” said Ecklund. “Of that, probably 80 percent of that are in condemned homes. Our parks department, just in city parks alone, have picked up 400 pounds of needles alone.”
Ecklund also talked about what could be on the horizon with her request for state assistance.
“Everything is on the radar,” she said. “And as you saw in the state of emergency, we asked the governor to work with ROME (Recovery Options Made Easy) to get that 24-hour emergency shelter up and running.”
Chautauqua County Executive PJ Wendel said his administration is dedicated to providing emergency housing and supportive services to help individuals experiencing chronic homelessness achieve long-term stability and improve their overall well-being.
“The encampments in Jamestown violate the Chautauqua County Sanitary Code, posing health risks for both residents and emergency personnel,” he said. “The County’s Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services has long been pursuing solutions to address local emergency housing needs. Following a meeting with Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund, the County has agreed to provide support to help homeless individuals directly connect to necessary and available services, with the Mobile Crisis Team ready to respond to emergencies related to mental health. Currently, our Social Services Department provides emergency shelter for 140 to 150 individuals daily in various hotels across the county.
At a July 29 Jamestown City Council meeting, resident Edward Vos asked questions regarding how much money could the city expect in funding from the state or federal governments; and if the city had any line-items for situations like this. He also inquired as to what other additional support could be expected beyond financial support.
Shantel Robinson of Jamestown has taken a more pragmatic approach to the unhoused and doesn’t believe any help will be forthcoming from any other governmental agencies outside those in the county.
“The governor doesn’t care about our problems here,” the resident said. “She probably doesn’t even know there even is a place called Jamestown in New York state. We’re going to have to take care of our problems locally. We issued a state of emergency, so what’s next? What’s the next step?”
In an email received by The Post-Journal, state Gov. Kathy Hochul says the answer to the homeless problem is in rebuilding communities. “Over the past seven years, I have traveled throughout the state and continue to be inspired by the strength, diversity, and perseverance of New Yorkers,” she wrote. “I promise to do everything I can, every single day, to create a stronger, safer future for you, our families, and our communities and to make the government a force for good once again.”