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County Executive PJ Wendel isn't making many friends in New York City these days.
Wendel hosted a news conference Friday to announce his issuing of a Local State of Emergency Order #2 on Sustainable Migration in response to New York City's expanded "Fighting Homelessness and Eviction Prevention Supplement (City FHEPS)" program, which would provide five years (or more) of rental vouchers to homeless NYC residents who agree to relocate upstate.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced the expanded rental assistance program earlier this week. Adams said less than 1% percent of apartments with rents less than $1,500 are currently available for new tenants. Adams' news release earlier this week said allowing voucher holders the opportunity to identify and obtain housing outside of the five boroughs will open up room in shelters for migrants while better aligning the city's housing voucher program with the federal Section 8 voucher program.
Wendel said Chautauqua County is as unprepared to handle an influx of New York City's homeless as it was to handle an influx of New York City's migrants.
"This unlawful program poses a grave risk to the social, health and emergency services resources of our county, practically because the county's homeless population is already at an all-time high," Wendel said. "A mass arrival of additional homeless individuals could create a crisis locally, impacting both county and non-profit services who meet the needs of these individuals."
The Post-Journal reported recently that agencies working on New York City's behalf had been reaching out to housing providers in Jamestown looking to secure private contracts to move migrants. The use of housing vouchers -- which would come with a five-year commitment as opposed to one year -- could make accepting the New York City vouchers more appealing to Chautauqua County landlords. There are 113,000 longtime unhoused New Yorkers and migrants in New York City now.
"Even though these rental vouchers would pay for housing, other associated costs would be placed on the backs of Chautauqua County taxpayers," continued Wendel. "As a county, we are obligated to pay for social services, educational programs and other supports a person who relocates may need." Anyone who may knowingly violate this Emergency Order is subject to a criminal charge by the Chautauqua County Sheriff's Office, a class B misdemeanor.
Additionally, when asked about the status of the current homelessness crisis in Chautauqua County, Wendel expanded further about the counties attempts at crisis mitigation and collaborative efforts the county is taking.
"Our resources are spread thin, and great organizations like UCAN City Mission and COI (Chautauqua Opportunities Inc.) are underfunded as it is and serve homeless people out of the kindness of their hearts and love," said Wendel. "You give them a dollar and watch how far they can make that dollar go-how far they can make it stretch."
The new emergency order takes effect immediately and will remain in place for a period of five days. The order can be renewed for an additional five day period, as required, per New York state law.
Adams has filed a lawsuit against Chautauqua County and more than 30 other counties that instituted emergency orders prohibiting the city from sending migrants into counties throughout the state without the county officials' approval. That case is still being litigated.