Individuals Experiencing Homelessness to Receive Services via New Homeless Court

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The Mayor’s Office and Community Development Department, together with City Court Judge Francine Vero, and Transitional Services Association (TSA) worked together to design a Homeless Court which assists individuals who are homeless and charged with non-violent offenses. 

Individuals who are eligible and agree to participate are provided with individually tailored, case management services and connected to human service providers. This will assist a person with a mental health diagnosis or substance use disorder who is also experiencing street-homelessness from continuing the cycle of street, to jail, and back into the courts. 

The Homeless Court was designed in response to the concern by Saratoga Springs City Court officials of an increasing pattern of individuals experiencing street-homelessness and frequently failing to appear in Court or re-offending shortly after being convicted. City Police echo the Court’s concerns. The pattern results in a backlog of warrants, as well as a significant amount of law enforcement time and resources spent policing individuals experiencing street-homelessness for minor, yet disruptive, offenses.

The Honorable Francine R. Vero presides over the Homeless Court which is scheduled for the second and fourth Tuesday of every month.