An $18 million plan for a new homeless shelter is moving forward in Ithaca, but neighbors and service workers warn the design could create serious safety risks, according to The Tompkins Weekly.
Officials want an 80-bed facility on Cherry Street, funded largely by a $15 million state grant, with Volunteers of America of Western New York set to run it. The three-story design would place all beds upstairs, raising concerns about accessibility, emergency exits, and whether vulnerable people can handle crowded living spaces.
Critics say past shelters turned chaotic without proper de-escalation space, while business owners nearby report rising crime. Leaders argue the project is critical, but admit it won’t meet growing demand.
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