07/03/2024
(Cross posting from the Nextdoor app- please share!!)
"Grants for Transitional Housing and Apartments For the House-Less”
As is widely known, Cortland is in desperate need of housing for those less fortunate having no homes, living where they are able, where they are not turned away by Police, living outdoors in the woods in the cold of night.
In a phone conversation with Daniel Sieberg, CEO, RESCUE MISSION ALLIANCE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT CORP, Syracuse, Mr Sieburg expressed an interest to this writer in discussing with a representative of the Cortland County Legislature(its President perhaps, Kevin Fitch) the possibility of a transitional housing 24/7 grant, explaining "what RMA HDC does" and how RMA HDC "could potentially offer similar services” in Cortland, everything covered, such as housing, staffing, etc. RMA HDC has set up similar housing (including transitional family apartments) in Syracuse, Ithaca, Binghamton, Auburn and Keuka County (Cortland Standard, 4/22/2024).
Mr Sieburg told me he feels especially close to Cortland as he is a graduate of SUNY Cortland and told me he would “immediately jump into his car to have lunch and discuss possible housing” with a representative of the CC Legislature! With 24/7 transitional housing, there would be less need to seek shelter in the kindly-staffed Cortland Free Library, the seeming impetus for the present discussion about the House-Less.
According to Director, Key Tobin, the YWCA Cortland won Grants Round 4 (which provided the gray apartment building near the old Dollar Bazaar on Homer Avenue, now the interesting ReUse) and the recent Round 8 of the Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative, the latter for a 24-unit apartment building that will include apartments for the Unhoused when completed. The YWCA, however, will not be applying in the next round. Perhaps Cortland County Legislature, with encouragement, will apply!
If you would like to encourage the CC Legislature to speak with Mr Sieburg and to also apply for apartments through ESSHI, do write to Mr Fitch, its President, at: [email protected]
