About Homelessness

Tens of thousands of New Yorkers are homeless on any given night, including over 200 in the Saratoga region. Over 33% of families in Saratoga County are experiencing financial hardship and at-risk of homelessness. The impacts of COVID have exacerbated food, housing, and employment security for families and individuals.

Read more about the: IMPACTS OF COVID

man in front of motel

Four Main Causes of Homelessness

LACK OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING

POVERTY

UNEMPLOYMENT

LOW WAGES

Saratoga Area Homelessness

nights open

guests

meals served

avg. length of stay

NYS Homelessness

people face homelessness in NYS

are single adults

%

of households struggle to make ends meet

%

poverty rate

Solutions

BASIC NEEDS AND SHELTER

Shelter provides people with overnight accommodations, food security, and the opportunity to work on housing and financial stability in a safe and supportive environment. We currently operate a 23 bed year-round shelter and Code Blue emergency shelter, which is open when overnight temperatures drop below 32 degrees from November until April.

OUTREACH AND NAVIGATION CENTER

Outreach services provide assistance to individuals and families living on the streets. Relationship building through basic necessities and individual assessments is key to the successful transition to shelter, treatment, and housing. For the winter season, outreach activities shift indoors to the Navigation Center, where safe daytime shelter is available with case management and access to community resources. Learn more about outreach.

SUPPORTIVE HOUSING

Supportive housing is affordable housing with onsite services that help formerly homeless, disabled tenants live in dignity in the community. Supportive housing is permanent and affordable: All tenants hold leases and pay about a third of their income in rent. The residences are owned and operated by nonprofit organizations, and are accountable to their city, state, and federal funders. 

In New York State, several capital and operating programs are available to help people facing homelessness secure housing. The Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP) provides capital grants and loans to not-for-profit corporations, charitable and religious organizations, municipalities and public corporations to acquire, construct or rehabilitate housing for persons who are homeless and are unable to secure adequate housing without special assistance. 

The Empire State Supportive Housing Initiative (ESSHI) and New York State Supportive Housing Program (NYSSHP) provides funding for supportive services.

Shelters of Saratoga currently operates 11 supportive housing units and will open 9 additional units in 2023.
Learn more about supportive housing.

References:

1-Saratoga region homelessness and shelter availability: Point-in-Time Count 2021 
2-New York and Saratoga County poverty and ALICE threshold data: ALICE Report 2020