Housing its largely-unseen homeless population is expected to cost Schoharie County $400,000 in hotel costs alone in 2022.
But what if there was a better place?
At 250 beds, the old Summit Shock is likely much too big.
But the old jail might be the perfect size and place and Friday, after Social Services Commissioner Donna Becker gave supervisors an idea of just how big—and expensive—the local problem is, supervisors agreed to explore it.
“We have an old jail that we’ve done everything we can to market,” said Blenheim Supervisor Don Airey.
“I’d like to look at the viability of using it to at least alleviate a portion” of the $400,000. “That’s buy-back for property we already own if it’s viable.”
Broome Supervisor Steven Weinhofer, who chairs the Building Committee and has worked closely with SEEC’s Julie Pacatte to market the jail as STEAM 157, agreed.
“Let’s open up some discussion,” he said.
Sharon Supervisor Sandy Manko asked about the possibility of turning the old Summit Shock into a homeless shelter.
Ms. Becker said she’s already talked with the owner, and though its size would “probably be overwhelming to DSS...I’m open to discussing anything”; Schoharie Supervisor Alan Tavenner said working with partners like Catholic Charities might be a way to make the Summit site viable.
Supervisors’ chair Bill Federice of Conesville put his support behind at least exploring the option of using the old jail.
“I think this is something we should seriously consider,” he said.
The first floor of the jail is about 20,000 square-foot of mostly-open space, he said, while the second floor, “really nice offices,” could be used to provide needed services.
“I don’t want to minimize the cost,” Mr. Federice said, “but putting something together might not cost much more than we’re spending today. As long as we have that building...”
He also suggested that having a tenant—the county—might make it easier to sell the jail.
Wednesday, the ARPA Committee agreed to spend $6,000 to hire a consultant for an independent appraisal and highest and best-use analysis of the old jail.
Friday, some supervisors asked whether they should still go ahead with that.
Yes, said Mr. Weinhofer; even if the plans for a homeless shelter at the old jail work out—and there’s no saying they will—“I’m not sure the county wants to be a landlord,” and the analysis will likely yield valuable information.
Right now, pointed out Schoharie Supervisor Alan Tavenner, the jail is assessed at close to $4 million—though it’s likely not worth anything near that.
“There’s value in knowing what it’s worth,” he said.
(See related stories in this week’s Times-J0purnal.)