08/29/2026
This was on the front of the PJ today. I am always happy the PJ does not let up about the homeless problem.
I wrote about it, anecdotally, just yesterday. I saw more homeless people than ever Downtown.
The Mayor is saying the same thing she has said from the beginning. It's not her problem to solve. It’s the County’s and the non profits problem.
This is the way I look at it. She is the leader of this City. So that makes it her problem whether she wants it or not. I’m not saying this because Mayor Ecklund is Mayor. I would be saying it regardless of who was Mayor.
One thing that has been surprising to me having this page is this. Whenever we talk about the homeless in Jamestown, most people understand these people represent many different situations and mental states. Many are drug addicts. Most people who have posted here over the last three years understand all this and still don’t want a human being to go hungry or to be freezing in the street.
The Mayor always says that "all other towns have the same problem"... no…they do not. The homeless population is dropping in other Cities in the County and growing in Jamestown. It's the same when she says "there is poverty is every town".. Yes, there is but Jamestown has just about double the national average of people living under the poverty level. That is not the same.
She can keep saying it's not up to Jamestown to solve this problem, but it's Jamestown that is suffering. Her City. The City she is in charge of.
You cannot walk from Downtown to Brooklyn Square down Main Street. I wrote about this yesterday. I just did it. It's horrible. It's dangerous. The City is expecting people to come as tourists and walk down to the River. It's ok on Third. When you get to Second it becomes worse. You are walking IN THE ROAD to get around the decaying Arcade building full of garbage. Then you get to pass under the Viaduct which is a horror. Then you get out the other side and it's like Night of the Living Dead. There are homeless people all over the place by the river.
You cannot build a Downtown if you cannot connect the River to the Downtown. Isn't that the name of this grant? From the Core to the Shore. You can't GET TO THE SHORE from the Core unless you clean up the Viaduct and the entire Brooklyn Square Area.
I advocate one more time for all of the ten million to be used in Brooklyn Square. Concentrating all the money in one area is going to better than spreading it out.
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‘Ongoing challenge’
City officials give update on homeless situation after state of emergency
By Sara Holthouse
August 29, 2026
On July 25, 2024, a state of emergency was declared in the city of Jamestown in an effort to help with the city's growing homeless population. In the two years since then, Mayor Kim Ecklund and other homeless related officials are reporting that work has continued, with one of the most important aspects of that work being collaboration between respective parties as they continue to tackle the issue.
"Homelessness is a complex issue with no single or easy solution," Ecklund said. "It remains an ongoing challenge that we continue to address every day, and Jamestown is one of many communities across New York State and throughout the country working through challenges related to homelessness, housing, mental health, and substance use. Over the past two years, I believe some of our most meaningful progress has come through collaboration."
Ecklund said that the relationships, partnerships and communication among city, county and service providers along with law enforcement and community organizations have continued to strengthen over the last two years. She also reported that the involved organizations are communicating more consistently, coordinating efforts, and working together to better understand the needs within the community and the resources available.
"Each of our community partners has an important role in this work," Ecklund said. "Direct funding for social services and homelessness programs flows through the county, service agencies, and community organizations that provide these critical services. At the city level, our role is to bring people together, support the work of our partners wherever we can, and advocate for the additional resources our community needs. We will continue strengthening these partnerships and working collectively to address this complex issue."
One such organization is the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition. Chautauqua Opportunities was designated by HUD as the continuum of care provider to help with the homelessness situation a few years ago, and is tasked with addressing homelessness throughout Chautauqua County. Director of Housing and Community Development with Chautauqua Opportunities, Amanda Straight, said a continuum of care is a regional or local planning body that coordinates housing and services funding for homeless families and individuals. Additionally, she said the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition is a comprehensive network of diverse organizations that work to address the needs of the community and provide intervention and prevention services for the homeless and those at risk of homelessness. Recently, work has continued in regards to the continuum of care.
"NY-514 was created in 2014," Straight said. "In 2026, we voted to merge with the Balance of State, NY-525. The Balance of State is a HUD-designated body that is responsible for coordinating and planning resources to address and end homelessness in a state's rural and less populated areas. Currently, it includes Cattaraugus, Chautauqua, Clinton, Fulton, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Putnam, Schoharie and Sullivan Counties. We continue to bring local community partners together through coalition meetings to coordinate efforts and advance the goals of the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition Action Plan. As part of the Balance of State Continuum of Care, our community also has access to funding through the collaborative application process."
This regional collaboration, Straight said, strengthens the community's response to homelessness by providing: Improved coordination and planning, including coordinated entry and meaningful involvement of people with lived experience; Technical assistance and support to strengthen local programs and services; Improved data collection and performance measurement, helping communities better understand needs and make informed decisions about resource allocation; More tailored programs and services through collaboration and networking with neighboring counties; Greater support for Permanent Supportive Housing, which has been identified as a critical need in the community; and Stronger advocacy and policy influence by giving local partners a greater voice in addressing homelessness and housing needs.
"Through continued collaboration, local organizations and community partners can work together to identify gaps, maximize available resources, and develop solutions that more effectively meet the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness," Straight said.
Anyone that may be interested in learning more or joining the Coalition can reach out to Straight and Chautauqua Opportunities, Inc.
Looking ahead towards the upcoming winter months, Ecklund said preparedness continues to be an important part of the city and community's response, noting that during her first year in office Code Blue shelter services were not immediately available when temperatures dropped to qualifying levels.
"Since then, we have seen improved preparedness, with Recovery Options Made Easy ready to activate Code Blue services when qualifying temperatures are reached," Ecklund said. "We appreciate their continued partnership and commitment to providing this important resource to our community throughout the winter."
Both Ecklund and Chautauqua County Social Services Coordinator Carmelo Hernandez noted that the Code Blue shelter is an important resource for the city, and one part in continuing to address the complex homelessness issue. Hernandez said in this coming winter an increase in the usage of Code Blue is just one thing he expects to see.
"I see individuals utilizing Code Blue a lot more," Hernandez said. "I could see more individuals applying for emergency housing, so I could see that happening and the numbers possibly going up for emergency housing. Those are the two things I could see happening for sure heading towards winter."
In the long term, Hernandez said there is a need for more licensed emergency housing, adding that if a licensed shelter, specifically for single males, could be put in place, he believes that could help aim the area in the right direction to keep people out of hotels and to help get some individuals off of the street as well.
"I think the other piece we need to look at as a whole is helping the housing stock in reference to safe, affordable housing stock," Hernandez said. "That's one thing that we have seen come up over and over. It's very complex most definitely, and multi-faceted, however, I will say there's many pieces that need to fall in place. Every day it's a new challenge, but the team and the county are up for the challenge."
Similarly, Ecklund said broader efforts to address the homelessness issue need to remain focused on the long term, including greater access to mental health and substance use services, housing stability, case management, and other supportive resources.
"The city will continue to be an engaged partner, support the organizations doing this work wherever we can, and advocate at the State and Federal levels for the additional resources Jamestown needs," Ecklund said. "Addressing homelessness requires a collaborative effort, and we remain committed to doing our part."
