JAMESTOWN — Recently, evidence-backed claims from knowledgeable sources within Chautauqua County have stated there has been a rise in the number of homeless encampments within the city of Jamestown.

Even with the many warming shelter locations, it is crucial to ensure that people are utilizing these services rather than attempting to spend a cold winter night on the streets. While many of the assistance organizations seem to be prepared for the hazardous winter months ahead, a rise in encampments could suggest more people are beginning to struggle.

The initial claims were brought to the attention of members of Chautauqua Opportunities Inc. Director of Housing and Community Development Amanda Straight first noted the issue at the county’s Homeless Coalition meeting on Nov. 13. Straight claimed it was first brought to the organization’s attention a couple weeks prior, and that street outreach has been a challenge within the county so far. While the county does have some street outreach funding through the Safe Point Lighthouse Outpatient Clinic in Dunkirk, there is no Continuum of Care funded street outreach program within the county, said Straight. Straight stated that this has left much of the street outreach, an essential part of connecting the homeless population to essential services, to volunteers.

Homeless Coalition member Gina Ward spoke in more detail on the encampments. Ward stated these camps did not typically have people in the mornings, although they are well established and populated camps. Ward noted that this suggests many of the individuals are taking advantage of the Code Blue Warming shelters available in the city. The singular encampment that was seen by Post-Journal staff similarly followed this trend, being nearly vacant in the mornings or very late at night.

Manager of the Code Blue Shelter on Washing Street Victor Flores stated the shelter had come close, but had not been full at the time of the meeting.

Flores noted the shelter also serves warm drinks, hot snacks, and other treats and meals frequently.

Ward noted the various organizations are incredibly appreciative of those that inform on the locations of these camps, as it allows these organizations to direct focus to ensuring that a dense population of unhoused people have necessary resources.

“That helps us just figure out where we’re going to go in the next couple of days, so the group really appreciated that,” said Ward. “Then we really just go and try to do the engagement. Outreach is not a quick thing, street outreach especially is not quick. You’ve got to establish your relationships, and trust, and really meet people where they’re at.”

While the warming center on Washington Street had not filled up yet at that time, 23 of the 25 beds had been filled the night before the meeting. If there are not more spaces for individuals at the main location, numerous other programs offer code blue sheltering as a sort of overflow. These locations include UPMC Chautauqua, the Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene, DSS Child and Adult Protection Services, Chautauqua Opportunities Mobile Crisis Team, UCAN City Mission, and the Mental Health Association.

UCAN Executive Director Bruce Baehr stated DSS instructs that individuals are sent to the Washington Street shelter first, with the extra shelter locations only being utilized when the shelter is full. Baehr noted that, while UCAN did have a couple code blue placements before Nov. 1, no individuals have had to use UCAN’s shelter for warmth since the other shelter has opened.

Those seeking to utilize the code blue services can reach out, or stop into, any of the previously listed organizations. Outside of regular business hours individuals are encouraged to contact the Chautauqua County Sheriff’s Department. For more information on code blue visit chautauquacountyny.gov/CodeBlue.