A new draft report from the City of Ithaca Advisory Committee on Encampment Response Policy recommends expanded support and refined procedures for handling homeless encampments on city land.
The revised draft, released April 7, will be presented to the Common Council on April 9, with a final vote scheduled for May 7.
The report updates Ithaca’s Pilot Administrative Policy to Manage Homeless Encampments, which was initially shared with Common Council in March. It reflects input from elected officials, service providers, volunteers, and individuals with lived experience of homelessness.
The policy outlines how the City responds to encampments and designates a 28-acre area where camping is temporarily allowed when no housing or shelter beds are available. According to the report, the City responded to 20 encampments outside this zone in 2024, offering relocation help and services.
The draft proposes a range of new actions. Among them is the creation of a “navigation hub” to connect unhoused individuals with support. It also calls for improvements to public health and living conditions at the designated camping area.
City of Ithaca Deputy City Manager Dominick Recckio, who chairs the advisory committee, said the proposals could help residents experiencing unsheltered homelessness. “We’ve incorporated feedback from people who work in the local homeless response system and people who have experienced homelessness firsthand,” Recckio said. “The report builds on years of efforts at City Hall, including the promising outcomes we saw in 2024.”
Liddy Bargar, Director of Housing Initiatives at the Human Services Coalition of Tompkins County, said the work addresses immediate needs while more permanent housing is developed. “While temporary camping areas are not the ultimate goal of our homeless response system, improving the areas that people are living and offering more dignified pathways to supportive services are things that the City can do to help people in the short term,” she said.
Common Council Member David Shapiro, who also serves on the committee, praised the collaborative process behind the report. “In just three months, this committee has developed what I believe is a strong and comprehensive report,” Shapiro said. “It’s a testament to what we can accomplish through collaborative, thoughtful dialogue on complex issues.”
The committee’s full draft, including a timeline of community engagement, is available through the City of Ithaca’s website.
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