A women’s shelter is needed in southern Chautauqua County.

Of that fact there is little doubt.

In 2020 alone, 222 single women and 108 women with families needed to stay in motels and hotels for shelter in the county.

We can do better than that.

Still, city officials raised an important question that needs to be answered before the shelter can become a reality — is the facility sustainable?

UCAN officials are looking to borrow $187,000 to purchase and renovate the building located at 100-120 N. Main St in Jamestown. The plan is to have 40 beds for single women and 45 beds available for women with families at the new shelter, which would also include a kitchen, laundry area and thrift store. Four businesses located in the building wouldn’t be relocated.

City officials, however, had enough doubt that members of the Jamestown Urban Renewal Agency board didn’t feel comfortable changing the city’s lien position from primary to secondary — in essence saying the city would be on the hook for federal grant money if the shelter falls through and the property is foreclosed upon.

The only thing worse than not having a place for women who need a shelter to go to is opening a shelter, filling a need in the community and then the shelter closing.

We hope UCAN officials are able to shore up the financials for the project and open the women’s shelter somewhere in Jamestown.

It is desparately needed — but it needs to have a sustainable future too.