(Photo obtained from dailygazette.com)
In the winter of 2013, Saratoga Springs experienced a shocking awakening when Nancy Pitts, a 54-year old woman, froze to death on the back deck of the Saratoga Senior Center where she was seeking shelter. At the time, there were no shelters in Saratoga that could accommodate those in need of a one-night stay due to life-threatening weather conditions. In response, Shelters of Saratoga, which focuses on sober housing and rehabilitation, started their Code Blue program.
Six years later, Code Blue — a program intended to provide low-barrier emergency shelter for any homeless person once temperatures drop below 32 degrees — is still looking for a permanent home. And there are ways that we can help.
In past years, Code Blue’s location for the winter was determined before the end of summer. Initially, St. Peter’s Parish Center housed the program, and then most recently at the Soul Saving Station. Although these locations were easily accessible, they did not provide enough space to house the average 35 people a night or any necessary facilities, such as showers and laundry services.
Now, with the freezing temperatures approaching quickly, and the rising number of the homeless in Saratoga, Code Blue remains in desperate need of a location.
According to Karen Gregory, Executive Director of Shelters of Saratoga, Code Blue is in a pivotal point of its existence as it searches for a permanent home. She says that “Action is needed on three fronts: preventing more people from becoming homeless in the first place, assisting the homeless to find accommodations and most important, providing more affordable housing.”
She reiterated that emergency shelters are crucial, and “we need them, but they are not long-term solutions.”
In 2017, Ed and Lisa Mitzen, local residents, offered to fund the permanent construction of Code Blue on the lot beside the sober shelter on Walworth Street. Ed Mitzen has stated to The Times Union that it seemed like the perfect location that would allow for “a coordinated approach to long-term stabilization and housing.”
However, the neighbors filed numerous complaints. The situation escalated when more than 20 Franklin Street residents sued the city’s planning board in order to stop the construction of the new Code Blue.
One neighbor, Eve Mulholland, expressed her concerns about the proposed location of Code Blue News Channel 13 during the time of the lawsuit. She commented that “there’s physical fights, there is screaming and yelling of profanities.” Mulholland was not alone in her displeasure, which was evident from the posted signs around the neighborhood.
Unfortunately for Code Blue, in September 2018, Judge Robert J. Chauvin ruled that the proposed shelter location could not move forward with its construction. Defeated, Shelters of Saratoga did not rule an appeal.
This year, Code Blue has started an initiative called #BlueNeedsYou to encourage local residents of Saratoga Springs to advocate for the protection and shelter of the increasing homeless population. And there are a number of ways that the community can get involved.
For this winter, the top three clothing items the shelter would like as donations are waterproof mittens or gloves, winter boots, and hand warmers. They are also looking for canned and dry food that can stock their shelves this winter, kitchen items that can be used to prepare meals, and personal care items — such as toothbrushes and combs — to hand out throughout the shelter.
In addition to donation, there are open volunteer positions at Code Blue. They are looking for volunteers to help with the pickup of meal donations from local restaurants, kitchen setup, meal preparation, meal cleanup, and laundry pickup/delivery services.
Even more, Erin Healy, a local advocate for homeless people, spoke at the public forum held at Zankel Music Center on Sept. 26. Healy encouraged Skidmore students to join the community fight for the construction of more permanent housing units for individuals experiencing a housing crisis. By supporting Shelters of Saratoga and Code Blue, Skidmore students can show their commitment to safety within our community.
To keep update on how you, as a student and community member, can help, visit Code Blue’s website and/or Facebook page.