Dozens attend local meeting to discuss proposed homeless center just outside of Lowville

LOWVILLE- Dozens of community residents attended a gathering Thursday evening to discuss the proposed homeless center just outside the village.

Hosted by Snow Belt Housing, the meeting focused around the proposed facility that would include 20 housing units.

According to the latest updates from WWNY-TV, there were three main issued raised by the public, including: costs, proposed location and integrating those at the facility into the community.

For now, the proposed site on Stowe Street, near the county’s Department of Social Services, remains the frontrunner. “Is our local taxes going to go up? Is the local government going to contribute to this project? The great answer for that, is that is all state funded for the full operating cost, and the build of the project,” Snow Belt Housing executive director Jaylin Hearns said.

“Twenty-four-hour security, 24-hour service access prevents some of the concerns that they’re having regarding temporary shelters, when people are not at a staffed facility,” she added.

“They’re at scattered sites, and people get disconnected from their families and their social supports.”

Out of the 20 units in this proposed project, 16 would be reserved for permanent use, while the remaining 4 would be for transitional use.

Image via Lewis County Government.