Rockland Chooses Catholic Charities For Homeless Warming Shelter

NEW CITY, NY — Catholic Charities of Rockland County will operate a warming center for homeless single adults at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Center in Pomona. The agency was chosen from among three that offered proposals to the county, said County Executive Ed Day.

The warming center will open for the season on Thursday evening. Guests of the warming center can board buses to the center from the following locations:

• Nyack: S. Broadway and Burd St. (in front of First Reformed Church of Nyack) at 6:15 pm and 8:00 pm.
• Haverstraw: Village of Haverstraw Commuter parking lot (across from Village Hall) at 6:15 pm and 8:30 pm.
• Spring Valley: Spring Valley Parking lot west of Key Bank on Route 59 at 5:30 pm and 7:30 pm.
• Pomona: Department of Social Services, 50 Sanatorium Road (at the bus shelter) at 5:00 pm (Monday-Friday).

The three agencies that sought to run the program were Helping Hands Interfaith Coalition for the Homeless of Rockland County, Mental Health Association of Rockland and Catholic Charities.

Helping Hands, which had held the contract, has been grappling with trouble this year; its executive director, Ya'el Williams of Thiells, pleaded guilty in June to passing counterfeit money in 2016.

The proposals were reviewed by the Department of Social Services; each organization was interviewed and given the opportunity to clarify their proposal and proposed budget. This review determined the proposal from Catholic Charities to be ranked number one and also the lowest cost proposal for the service.

The warming center will operate from Nov. 1, 2018, through April 30, 2019. During that time, a center with 75 beds and the capacity for additional beds will open every night in a secure location at the Dr. Robert L. Yeager Health Complex in Pomona.

It will remain open during the day when the temperature, including wind chill, is 32 degrees or colder.

"Even one homeless person in Rockland County is too many," said Day, who signed a resolution approving funding for the program. "The causes of homelessness are complex, and this service will continue to help the most vulnerable people in our County be safe and get connected to the services they need."

From Nov. 1, 2017, to April 30, 2018, the average number of guests staying at the warming center overnight was 41. Numbers of guests varied from an average of 32 a night in November 2017, to an average of 52 a night in January 2018.

Personnel from the Rockland County Department of Social Service with the assistance of the Department of Mental Health were able to match residents with services, including connecting 38 people with permanent housing options over the last year, Day said.

The warming center is in a space that formerly housed an in-patient mental health unit. It has showers and laundry facilities. Dinner and breakfast are provided to overnight guests. There will be security on-site.

Catholic Charities will run the center under a contract with the County for $457,724. These services fall within the mission of the RCDSS and by integrating them the contract costs may be eligible for reimbursement up to 76 percent from the State and Federal government. The local share for this contract is about 24 percent or $109,854.

Catholic Charities Executive Director Jerry Kilbane said, “The operation of the Catholic Charities Inn as the Rockland County Warming Center is a major step towards continuing our service to those in our community most in need. It is a great honor but also responsibility and we are committed to serving those residents who come to us with dignity and respect.”

The County will also continue to run its long-established shelter for homeless women, children and families.

Image via Google Maps

SEE:

• Rockland Lawmakers Honor Helping Hands Founder
  
• Plea Bargain For Shelter Executive In Phony Money Case
  

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