Several homeless individuals are still encamped along the Riverwalk, despite a Thursday afternoon warning from city officials to vacate the area. More than 20 eviction notices have been posted at various known encampments across Jamestown. P-J photo by Christopher Blakeslee

Jamestown’s escalating homeless crisis has a new storyline in light of a news release issued Friday evening by the city: An emerging war of words and criticisms by the government toward a major county nonprofit.

In announcing an update on the situation, government leaders took on Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. for its recent announcement it would be doing a count of those homeless throughout the county and hosting a meeting on Tuesday to discuss their findings. Jamestown officials said that is far from enough.

“We are disappointed by Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. (COI), the designated Continuum of Care (CoC) for Chautauqua County, and their recent press release and statements regarding the city’s efforts to address homelessness,” said Joseph Calimeri, executive assistant to Mayor Kim Ecklund, in a news release. “We had hoped for their assistance and cooperation in gathering data, sharing facts, engaging in meaningful collaboration, and working together to find solutions to addressing the homeless crisis in Jamestown.

“As the lead agency for the Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition, has scheduled only six virtual meetings, totaling just six hours, for the entire year of 2024,” the statement noted. “It is unrealistic to expect that homelessness in Jamestown and Chautauqua County can be effectively addressed in such limited time.

“When we were discussing homeless numbers with COI earlier this year, we were concerned with the number of 30 homeless individuals we were presented. A number that was clearly inaccurate. We also discussed the elimination of their outreach position, as this number is underestimated and fails to reflect the harsh reality on the ground that our residents and workforce are seeing and dealing with currently. We need to do better.”

An article printed in today’s Post-Journal offers an update on the situation before this news item was issued.

Growing Concerns

COI’s strategic plan for 2024-2026 emphasizes collaboration to address regional poverty, the city noted. “We sincerely hope their future actions will reflect a genuine partnership with all stakeholders. The city has been compelled to take the lead on this crisis, despite not having the resources or expertise that COI and other agencies possess.”

The city said it has demonstrated significant support for Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. (COI) in tackling homelessness, including over $150,000 in CDBG funds for lead abatement at the Women’s Shelter currently under construction and more than $180,000 allocated to the two Code Blue Shelters two years ago. The city has also provided essential resources, including contributing 20% of the staffing for the Thursday count through city employees, as well as city services and equipment.

The city says it will continue to do whatever it takes to protect the health, safety, and environment of the community. “We are not alone in this effort, as other municipalities across the state and country are taking similar actions to address the risks posed by illegal encampments,” the statement said.

In California, local municipalities have been ordered to clear encampments that pose health and safety risks, with Gov. Gavin Newsom recently participating in these operations. San Francisco is conducting sweeps despite its shelters being at 94% capacity, and Escondido will enact a ban on illegal encampments starting Friday. Similarly, Minnesota and Des Moines, Iowa are implementing bans and penalties.

Since the State of Emergency was declared in Jamestown, the city reports its has taken substantial and coordinated steps to manage the homelessness crisis. Actions include working closely with local, county, and state agencies, as well as non-profits, to provide critical services and support to these homeless individuals. These efforts have led to significant progress, including helping several individuals transition from hazardous encampments to safer environments.

“As part of our ongoing response to the crisis, we have confirmed with the Governor and the Office of Mental Health (OMH) that funding for the Crisis Stabilization Center for Recovery Options Made Easy (ROME) is advancing,” the city noted. “Additionally, the Governor and the OMH are collaborating with hospital-based providers to expand acute psychiatric capacity. We will continue to engage with the Governor and OMH to ensure a facility is designated in Southwestern New York in the near future. Furthermore, a Mobile Medication Unit (MMU) supported by Promesa is expected to become operational later this year, enhancing access to critical addiction treatment medications.”

The State of Emergency was declared due to the proliferation of illegal encampments, which have introduced serious public health and safety risks, including improper disposal of needles, human waste, environmental damage, and increased criminal activity. The City is addressing these challenges with a comprehensive and compassionate approach, conducting outreach and providing resources before any sweeps.

To date, the city has successfully completed one encampment cleanup in the area around and including Ransom Alley. Homeless individuals received advance notice of the cleanup and a 96-hour relocation period. Outreach services, including mobile crisis support, were available on the day of the cleanup, and the process proceeded smoothly without incident.

“We extend our gratitude to all those involved, including Mobile Crisis, Adult Protective Services, Mental Hygiene, Probation, the Jamestown Police and Fire Departments, the Department of Development (DOD), the Department of Public Works, the Chautauqua County Executive, the Office of Emergency Services, the Office of Temporary Assistance, the Mayor, and members of the Jamestown City Council,” the release notes. “This approach has proven successful and will be refined and applied to future cleanups, with the next focus on a section of the Riverwalk and viaduct.”

Locally, Salamanca and the Seneca Nation are removing illegal encampments, with Seneca Nation President underscoring the need to safeguard community safety from drug use and aggressive behavior. In Buffalo, officials cleared a downtown encampment and encouraged individuals to volunteer at shelters rather than providing resources that might inadvertently perpetuate the issue–an approach Jamestown also suggested and faced criticism for. However, feedback from nonprofits and organizations assisting the homeless indicates a critical need for volunteers.

The City of Olean has endorsed a resolution to form a homelessness task force to proactively address the issue, reflecting concerns similar to those in Jamestown about the safety and impact of increasing homelessness.

Jamestown residents are demanding immediate action to address the growing issue of encampments. They are increasingly frustrated by the dangerous and unsanitary conditions along the Riverwalk, including discarded needles, public urination, human waste, and the pervasive odors they produce. The presence of hazardous pathogens such as salmonella, E. coli, Hepatitis A, and norovirus, coupled with the spread of rodents and pests from the encampments to residential areas, has created a significant public health crisis.

Residents are also troubled by rampant graffiti, trash, and debris littering public spaces, as well as the aggressive and violent behavior exhibited by some individuals. Recent incidents, including a fire behind Jackson-Taylor Park, the house fire on Fulton Street which is currently in legation, and a notable increase in crime associated with the encampments, highlight the urgent need for decisive action.

In June, a single business in Brooklyn Square received 43 calls for service, with the total for the area exceeding over 100 calls. This surge in calls is placing an undue strain on police resources and exacerbating the problem.

“We strongly urge COI to actively fulfill its role as the Continuum of Care for Chautauqua County and make a meaningful contribution to resolving this urgent issue,” the city concluded. “Should COI choose not to engage, we will continue our efforts with our current collaborative partners to safeguard the safety, health, and well-being of our community and residents.”