Oakley Street homeless shelter moves forward; City of Poughkeepsie considers legal action
The City of Poughkeepsie and Dutchess County Government are at odds about a planned homeless shelter at 26 Oakley St. in the City of Poughkeepsie.
This shelter will replace the current PODS shelter, which Dutchess County said has sheltered up to 150 single adults.
On May 7, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino announced the county is moving forward with a plan to provide supportive housing for single adults at Oakley Street, despite the City of Poughkeepsie's hope that the shelter would instead provide housing only for single women and families.
The project is funded by a $13 million grant from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, and construction is set to begin in spring 2026.
Earlier this year, the New York State Comptroller released a report on homelessness outlining the Poughkeepsie and surrounding Dutchess County area, which saw the lowest increase in homelessness across the state, at only 11%. As of 2024, 705 people in the area were homeless.
More: New York saw homelessness 'surge' in 2024. What it means in mid-Hudson Valley
Dutchess County reports approximately 560 people are currently unhoused — 300 single adults and 100 families with children. These people are housed through a network of emergency options, such as multiple shelters for single adults, two-family shelters, a domestic violence shelter, veterans' emergency housing and placements in local hotels and motels.
In recent months, the city and county discussed a concept via a Letter of Intent laying out the framework for the facility to serve families — many of whom, the county claims, are currently placed in hotels. To meet the need in the area and maximize the shelter, the proposed plan also involved serving a limited number of single women.
But in a May 7 statement, Serino said the Dutchess County Legislature informed her in the early spring they would not support the plan due to concerns about where the county would house single men and the long-term cost of finding an additional site to house them.
With that lack of support, Serino opted not to co-sign the Letter of Intent.
"In good faith, we tried to build a compromise that worked for everyone," Serino said. "But when it became clear that the Legislature would not support the plan, I had a choice to make: walk away from $13 million or move forward with a facility that could help the most people. I chose the second option, because I believe we can't keep waiting while people are living without hope, structure, or support."
The City of Poughkeepsie Common Council said in a May 7 statement that it may consider legal action against the county for its plan to move forward with the shelter as a space only for single adults.
"The County Executive's sudden reversal and refusal to sign can lead to only one conclusion: The County Executive, Legislature and town leaders are loudly proclaiming: 'Not In My Backyard!'" Nathan Shook, Fourth Ward council member and vice chair of the Common Council, said in an email statement.
Construction on the shelter is set to begin in spring 2026 for a summer 2027 opening.
The county said it recognizes the need for long-term solutions for housing unhoused families and is exploring options. In the meantime, families will continue to be housed through partner shelters and hotels.
A $13,023,795 grant from the OTDA will facilitate the project to provide housing, structure and support services for up to 100 individuals experiencing homelessness. The shelter will include 24/7 staffing, on-site case management, mental health and substance use services, job training, and individualized independent living plans for each resident.
"We have a long way to go — but we are moving in the right direction," Serino said. "Too often we see examples across the nation of people stuck in a cycle of homelessness. It is time to change that and help lift them up. This isn't just a building — it's a chance."
This article originally appeared on Poughkeepsie Journal: Oakley Street homeless shelter plan moves forward despite controversy
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