Homelessness reduction and rental supplement program
Summary
Martin Colavito reported homelessness up over 30% and urged the county to pursue the Gateway housing project again. Legislator McPhillips countered that the county is working on a wraparound-services facility rather than a 20-bed shelter, with work underway on a site.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 6
- Last 30 days
- 0
Discussed at 1 meeting in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 1, 2026.
Impact analysis
The county is spending roughly $1.75 million monthly on motel and collateral costs for about 100 unsheltered people.
Homeless residents would benefit from shelter and services; taxpayers would save if costly motel placements end.
People sleeping on benches and in the woods face daily danger; visible homelessness also affects the county's image.
Mentions & discussions (7)
Health & Human Services — October 1, 2026
Sullivan County still has the state's highest per-capita homelessness rate, but its census dropped to 191 from around 300, earning credit at the state counties conference. Brian McPhillips asked staff to analyze whether doubling the $250,000 rental supplement program would push numbers down further and ease the burden on certain townships.
Health & Human Services — July 16, 2026
County PASS, RSP, and SAFE programs are moving families and singles from motels into permanent housing, with combined savings estimated near $640,000 a year. The emergency housing census is down to 18 families and 194 adults.
Management & Budget Committee — July 16, 2026
A resident asked about the rumored $8 million Gateway Housing grant; officials clarified the county never applied, and the actual path is the HHAP homeless grant, which the county has historically underused.
Economic Development Committee — July 9, 2026
Martin Colavito reported homelessness up over 30% and urged the county to pursue the Gateway housing project again. Legislator McPhillips countered that the county is working on a wraparound-services facility rather than a 20-bed shelter, with work underway on a site.
New York Re-Opened Its Shelter Housing Funding. Sullivan County Still Isn’t Ready to Apply.
New York Re-Opened Its Shelter Housing Funding. Sullivan County Still Isn’t Ready to Apply. Radio Catskill
Human Resources Committee — June 11, 2026
Students proposed building gateway housing for homeless students and families, funded by HUD community development block grants and the Housing Assistance Program, with Habitat for Humanity as builder. About 70 families are housed in motels at roughly $2 million a year in taxpayer cost; Colavito reported nearly $5 million spent last year on emergency housing.
Health & Human Services — May 14, 2026
The shelter census dropped to 260 adults and children, with about 45 people moved into permanent housing. Rental supplement programs are keeping people housed before they become homeless — which officials note is also cheaper for taxpayers than hotels.
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