In the on-going conversation around homelessness, a recurring theme emerges with local leaders, community advocates, committed groups and individuals, and those agencies tasked with developing meaningful solutions.

That theme is: It takes a collaborative and coordinated approach to prevent and end homelessness.

It is not the singular effort of one person or agency, and responsibility doesn’t lie with one sector or organization, it is the collective effort with purpose that creates and sustains movement forward and progress. 

For many years Saratoga County has benefited from the collective effort of the Saratoga – North Country Continuum of Care (CoC). This is a collection of agencies funded through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to provide housing solutions across the entire spectrum of homelessness: chronic, youth, families, domestic violence victims, veterans, and all others experiencing a housing crisis. The CoC serves a large region encompassing Saratoga, Warren, Washington, and Hamilton Counties; however, there is a subset of the full CoC, a local planning body known as the Saratoga Housing Alliance, that provides a committed local presence with years of experience and countless stories of success. 

Just last month, the Saratoga Housing Alliance formally combined efforts with the Saratoga Collaborative to End Homelessness to become a more cohesive and organized group that will be called the Saratoga County Alliance to End Homelessness. This new group now combines the efforts of over 12 different agencies and organizations, several faith-based partners, the Saratoga Chamber of Commerce, Department of Social Services, the City of Saratoga Springs, community advocates, health sector partners, and many others, which in practice and purpose meets the vision of the community-based response to collaboratively address and prevent homelessness for all. This presents an opportunity for coordination on an entirely new level, breaks down barriers of perceived responsibility, and sets the stage for implementation of new funding available to Saratoga County to make significant change and impact on homelessness.

On March 27, 2020 Congress passed and President Trump signed H.R. 749, the CARES Act. Included in that legislation is an emergency allocation of $4 billion to be used specifically to address the needs of individuals and families experiencing homelessness, or at risk of homelessness, that have arisen as the result of COVID-19. For Saratoga County, this allocation amounted to $975,000. Under the direction of, and in collaboration with, Saratoga County DSS developed a comprehensive community-wide plan to implement the funding with 8 different non-profit organizations, and named CAPTAIN Community Human Services as the lead agency tasked with coordinating those programs and services. The collaborative agencies include Legal Aid of NENY, Prevention Council / Healing Springs, Salvation Army, Shelters of Saratoga, Transitional Services Association, Veterans and Community Housing Coalition, and Wellspring.

The funding will be directed toward increasing on-the-street presence of trained professionals for Street Outreach, strengthening and supporting Emergency Sheltering services, providing access to permanent housing for homeless individuals and families, and preventing evictions and homelessness through financial assistance. This funding allows for implementation of innovative strategies to increase access to housing and permanency in a collaborative and cooperative model that is client-focused, which ultimately benefits the entire community by decreasing the opportunity for community-spread of this debilitating disease and increasing the wellness of the most vulnerable.

Further, the City of Saratoga Springs Community Development Office received funding to create a program to address homelessness, or those at-risk of homelessness within City limits, due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The program provides additional funding for housing services, which are administrated through partnerships with local non-profits. Those non-profits work with eligible clients to provide security deposits, rental assistance, case management, and other supportive services to help homeless individuals and families attain permanent housing or maintain their current housing by preventing evictions.

The combination of these new funding sources and the enhanced collaborative, community-based approach, Saratoga County is poised for opportunities for real and lasting positive impact on homelessness. 

More information will be available to the community on how to access these resources and eligibility for assistance in the coming weeks, but information can be found by contacting CAPTAIN Community Human Services at 518-371-1185, or on the City of Saratoga Springs website at: saratoga-springs.org/2577/COVID-19-Emergency-Housing-Assistance-Pr

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With the clock ticking to a midnight deadline that would have installed what Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan called a “skeletal budget” as proposed in October, the City Council Nov. 30  staged a Special Meeting during which it unanimously approved a less austere 2021 budget that maintains essential city services and preserves city jobs and salaries. 

The initial budget proposed in October was set at $41.9 million – a $7 million reduction to the 2019 plan. The amended 2021 budget approved this week calls for a $46.2 million spending plan. It may be further amended after Jan. 1, 2021. 

The plan calls for a 6% property tax increase, meaning a home assessed at $200,000 will require an additional payment of $72 annually; a home assessed at $400,000 will see an annual payment increase of $144.   

Commissioner Madigan said with a vaccine seemingly on the horizon, she is feeling “optimistic” about at least some form of tourism returning to the Spa City next year.

• The city announced a COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program Application period opens Dec. 7, with 25 to 51 grants of $5,000 – $10,000 to be awarded. Funds may be used for: payroll, rent or mortgage, utilities, equipment to facilitate the outdoor conduct of business during winter months, or supplies and equipment that reduce risk of coronavirus transmission.

Grant recipients must preserve at least 1 FTE job held by a low-income person – designated as less than  $33,950/year –  for at least six months.

The COVID-19 Small Business Grant Program, administered locally by the City’s Office of Community Development (OCD), was funded by a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act. All applicants must agree to federal program requirements. For full guidelines, eligibility information, and application forms go to: saratoga-springs.org. 

• The comment period for Draft 2 of the UDO has been extended and the public is invited to submit comments through Friday, Dec. 11. 

Members of the City’s UDO project team led six public Q&A sessions during the 60-plus days that Draft 2 has been available for review.  Draft 2 documents and maps, including video recordings and presentation slides, are available on the UDO web page on the city’s website for review.    

It is anticipated that a final draft of the UDO will be released and submitted to the County and City Land Use Boards for advisory opinions, prior to being presented to Council for a vote during the first quarter of 2021.

• A meeting of the Police Reform Task Force will be held at Saratoga Music Hall and livestreamed on the city website at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 9. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — The city Land Use Boards – the Planning Board, Design Review Commission, and Zoning Board of Appeals are considering a variety of applications this month. 

Among the applications anticipated to be under consideration are an Architectural Review of exterior details and colors for the new construction of 18 townhomes at 96-116 Ballston Ave. and a Historic Review of exterior modifications at 351 & 353 Broadway with an eye to the repair or replacement of porch columns on the east side of the Rip Van Dam to address deteriorating column bases.

An approval extension of a special use permit, which was granted June 20, 2019, is sought for a 200-unit affordable housing project at Allen Drive and Tait Lane, and as per a pair of demolition requests, a Historic Review determination of historic/architectural significance is sought for a pair of vacant structures which stand at 65 Phila St. and 69 Phila St., respectively.   

The DRC is next scheduled to meet Dec. 9, the Planning Board on Dec. 10, and the ZBA on Dec. 14. Meetings are typically held via Zoom. See the city’s website at Saratoga-springs.org for more details. 

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CLIFTON PARK — A 27-year-old Mechanicville man was killed after the garbage truck he was driving was involved in a crash. 

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call of a garbage truck rollover crash on Hubbs Road in Clifton Park Nov. 6. The truck went off onto the shoulder, struck a utility pole, a tree and a wood-chipper truck before rolling over. 

The garbage truck involved was owned by County Waste. The driver of the garbage truck was identified as Tyrek J. Brace. He was pronounced dead at the scene.   

Matthew B. Freihofer, age 41, of Ballston Spa, was clearing brush in the area of the crash suffered minor injuries. 

The Saratoga County Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Saratoga County Office of Emergency Services, State Police, Jonesville Fire, Round Lake Fire, Malta Fire and Clifton Park Halfmoon EMS.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Drugs or alcohol are not suspected at this time. 

SARATOGA SPRINGS — Five-term city Finance Commissioner Michele Madigan announced this week she will not seek a sixth term when Saratoga Springs elect their next City Council in November 2021.

“In the past nine years, the Finance Department has accomplished much for the city we all love, and we have much to be proud of,” Madigan said, in a prepared statement. “It is time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life.”   

The finance commissioner is charged with presenting the annual city budget, which this year is seeking to adjust to a near $7 million shortfall, due to what councilmembers have referred to as “this COVID economy.”

SARATOGA SPRINGS — With the swift shearing of a green ceremonial ribbon, the long awaited City Center parking facility – and the 600-plus parking spaces it brings to downtown Saratoga Springs – was unveiled this week and announced itself open for business. 

Through the end of this calendar year, the first four hours of parking is free of charge. Parking rates for 2021 will be free for the first hour of parking, and $1 per hour after that first free hour, with a $15 cap charge in the 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. period. 

The $16 million multi-floor structure features secure covered parking for over 620 vehicles, four electric car charging stations, two green spaces, a pair of elevators and an open, flat, roof top area that can be used for parking and for convention related events.

A glass-enclosed pedestrian walkway extends over Maple Avenue, connecting the parking structure with the City Center complex. 

The structure was unveiled Nov. 10 during a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by regional business and economic leaders and city officials. Saratoga Springs Mayor Meg Kelly city councilmember Anthony “Skip” Scirocco addressed the crowd.

“It is so exciting to bring this needed project to fruition, and to be part of the City Center’s continued growth, but the credit for this project also belongs to many current and former city council members, City Center Authority members, City Center employees, and members of the business community,” said Ryan McMahon, executive director of the Saratoga Springs City Center. 

The City Center, located at the north end of Broadway, opened in 1984 and has served as host to corporations, New York State Associations, trade groups and northeast regional organizations, gate shows, fundraising galas and social events. The conference complex offers a total of 58,000 square feet of conference space when partnered with the adjoining 242 room Saratoga Hilton Hotel. 

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The development of an adjoining parking structure has been debated, often vehemently, for more than a decade and the project has undergone a multitude of suggested variations. 

Community concerns targeted the facility’s size, its design, and its location atop prime city-owned land. Conversely, a large contingent of business owners have long advocated for its creation, reasoning that the additional parking spaces would increase the economic vitality for downtown retail shops and restaurant. And City Center officials have discussed the need of easy parking for potential clients to compete in a marketplace with other regional centers vying for convention business. 

“You always want to improve your game,” Tom Roohan, chairman of the Saratoga Springs City Center Authority, told reporters at Tuesday’s ceremony. “In December 2013 we started this process, and I think we ended up with a great project with more than 600 parking spots, a well-lit, safe and secure parking facility that will help encourage companies to come into town.” During evening hours, a security guard will be on premise to offer an added layer of safety.  A limited number of yearly parking passes are available for purchase from the Saratoga Springs City Center.

The structure, which stands one block east of Broadway, was developed atop a surface lot that saw the elimination of 188 previously free parking spaces. For the time being, parking continues to be free of charge in most of the other existing public parking areas downtown, as well as on city streets.