S.O.S Code Blue Season: 299 People Sheltered, 56 Moved Into Housing or Longer-Term Shelter

SARATOGA SPRINGS —The Code Blue shelter wrapped up its 10th shelter season in April and provided access to shelter for nearly 300 people facing winter homelessness in the greater Saratoga area, Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) reported last week. 

The 2023-24 Code Blue shelter, located at 120 South Broadway opened for the season in October 2023 when temperatures dipped below 32 degrees, the threshold for inclement weather shelter in New York State. The shelter’s 75 cots were full within two weeks of opening, despite an unseasonably warm winter. 

The Code Blue shelter closed for the season on Tuesday, April 26, 2024. 

During the season Shelters of Saratoga (SOS) staff helped 30 guests successfully move into housing, and 26 guests transitioned to longer-term shelter with support services at SOS’s Emergency Shelter program on Walworth Street or the RISE Housing and Support Services’ Adelphi Street shelter. Fourteen guests chose to enter clinical care facilities. Placement into housing and transitional services helped minimize the number of guests leaving Code Blue without stable accommodations when the shelter closed.

“Once again, Code Blue was at capacity early in the winter season. A crucial element for our success has been our collaboration with RISE,” Duane Vaughn, Executive Director at Shelters of Saratoga, said in a statement.  “Our partnership has been instrumental in providing effective services to those struggling in our community. The Adelphi Street shelter operated by RISE provides the opportunity for guests to continue stability services that began at Code Blue. This partnership highlights the effectiveness of community collaboration in addressing homelessness.” 

The Code Blue shelter plans to reopen at 120 South Broadway in October 2024. Those in need of shelter may choose Shelters of Saratoga’s emergency shelter on Walworth Street, or the temporary low-barrier shelter operated by RISE on Adelphi Street, each operating year-round. 

The Code Blue shelter is operated by area non-profit Shelters of Saratoga, with assistance from Saratoga County and in accordance with NYS Emergency Measures for the Homeless During Inclement Winter Weather. The NYS measure mitigates the effects of inclement winter weather, and the resulting impacts of such weather on individuals experiencing homelessness, as the responsibility of each social service district. 

Over 11,500 meals were served to guests of Code Blue, donated by area restaurants, faith-based groups, and civic organizations. Community volunteers spent 312 total hours serving meals to guests. 

2023-24 Highlights

Number of people sheltered: 299

Meals served: 11,560

Nights open: 171

Housed: 30

Long-term shelter: 26

Clinical treatment programs: 14

Volunteer hours: 312

Dinner donors: 16 

Average length of stay: 35 nights

Range of length of stay:

1 day               41 guests

2-15 days        110 guests

16-30 days      32 guests

31-60               48 guests

61-90               30 guests

90+                  38 guests