The emergency shelter for tenants displaced by Friday’s massive apartment fire closed Monday evening, leaving a number of people searching for housing.
The fire displaced 60 residents of 100-102 and 104 Jay St., across from Schenectady City Hall, when it destroyed the buildings early Friday morning.
About a dozen people stayed at the shelter at Christ Church on State Street Sunday night.
Shelter guests unable to make other living arrangements were sent to the Department of Social Services office Monday to work on obtaining housing.
The county’s emergency management team, which includes representatives from its public health and mental health departments and the Department of Social Services, met with a number of nonprofit agencies Monday to work out a plan to get fire victims’ needs met as quickly as possible, said county spokesman Joe McQueen.
About 40 people have gone to the Department of Social Services seeking housing assistance since the fire, he said.
“We’re doing individualized service planning because every person is going to have a different situation,” McQueen said.
While the shelter was still open, staff from DSS and the county’s mental health and public health departments met with those staying there to determine their needs.
“It’s not just necessarily DSS getting them into housing, but we’re looking at their public health needs, as well as their mental health needs,” McQueen said. “Obviously, for many of them, there’s trauma coming with this.”
Dennis Thomas, who lived at 100 Jay St., said he has been greatly traumatized by the fire.
A military veteran, he is receiving assistance from Soldier On, a nonprofit organization that works to end veteran homelessness.
“I have a peer counselor here with Soldier On. I told him this morning I really don’t want to live in a building. I’d rather live in a tent, because I don’t know if the places are going to be safe,” he said.
Right now, Thomas and his two dogs are being housed at a hotel in Castleton-on-Hudson. He said he’s working with Soldier On to figure out what he’s going to do next.
Brenda Lupe, who lived at 100 Jay St., was at DSS Monday searching for a place to live.
She said she lost everything in the fire except for her cat.
A referral from the American Red Cross allowed her to apply for housing at DSS without any identification.
DSS is serving as a central point for fire survivors to obtain help with housing even if assistance from the agency wasn’t needed. There, it is confirmed that those applying for help were indeed left homeless by the fire, said Kimarie Sheppard, executive director of Bethesda House.
Bethesda House case managers were at DSS Monday processing housing intake forms and helping to find apartments for fire survivors. The organization, which assists Schenectady’s homeless population, was able to secure apartments Monday for six households displaced by the fire, Sheppard said. One of those served is receiving temporary assistance from DSS and five have their own income source.
Bethesda House case management staff went to work early Friday morning contacting landlords who might have apartments fire victims could rent.
“One of our goals was to make sure we could get the families in as quickly as possible,” Sheppard said.
With assistance from DSS, Catholic Charites was able to place a number of fire survivors in apartments the organization owns in the city, said spokesman Paul McAvoy.
Local organizations have pledged many types of assistance to those who need to rebuild their lives after the fire.
The Schenectady Foundation has reactivated its Rebuilding Families Fund to provide long-term recovery aid for survivors of the fire, seeding the effort with $10,000. The money will be funneled through agencies working directly with those displaced by the fire, said Executive Director Robert Carreau.
“Even situations where people may have family to lean on, they may run out of resources and then need help, so this fund helps for the longer term,” he said.
The fund was established in 2011 in response to the great need for assistance following tropical storms Irene and Lee.
The public can donate to the Rebuilding Families Fund through The Schenectady Foundation’s website or by sending a check to the foundation at 376 Broadway, Schenectady, NY 12305.
In addition to helping victims locate housing, Bethesda House is offering access to showers at its facility on State Street, along with free clothing, hygiene kits and food from its food pantry.
The YWCA NorthEastern New York is offering clothing, showers, food, phone service and counseling services to those displaced by the fire.
The City Mission of Schenectady has donated clothing, blankets and toiletries and is offering a place for fire survivors to shower.
The YMCA’s housing program in Schenectady is offering meals, hygiene products, men’s clothing and showers.
The Salvation Army of Schenectady is offering meals, clothing, toiletries and funds to help the victims get back on their feet.
Unable to find a suitable apartment Monday, Lupe was referred to The Salvation Army’s shelter on Lafayette Street. She said she can stay there until Friday but will need to get a referral from DSS if she has not found an apartment by then and needs to stay longer.
Categories: -News-
