Buffalo Common Council denies proposed emergency homeless shelter

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) — The Buffalo Common Council denied an emergency homeless shelter proposed by Family Promise of WNY to be built on East Ferry Street, Council Member Zeneta Everhart said Wednesday in an interview with WIVB News 4.

Tuesday’s denial of the project follows concerns from residents on Buffalo’s east side about possible quality of life issues and a potential spike in traffic and noise.

East Side residents voice concern about proposed homeless shelter

At a cost of nearly $7 million, the shelter, meant for homeless families only, would have provided 40 extra beds and a fenced-in playground. It also would have been Family Promise’s second emergency homeless shelter in Erie County, with its first located on Hickory Street in Buffalo.

Erie County had approached the organization about building another shelter to address increasing homelessness in the area.

Everhart was initially on board with the proposed shelter and told Family Promise to reach out to residents for input. At the council’s public hearing in January, residents said they felt blindsided by the proposal.

“People had misconceptions on what Family Promise is and what they do and like I said, I would not have signed up to say, ‘Yes, I think this is a possible good project,’ if I didn’t trust that mission,” Everhart said. “For me, it was listening to the actual needs of the people. Yes, I read through everything that Family Promise sent me, and they have a compelling argument, but so do the residents in the community who live there.”

Property values was also a “big issue” with residents, Everhart said.

She said because the shelter would have been right next to residents’ houses, she didn’t want the community to feel uncomfortable in their own homes.

“I don’t believe that the crime exists in this,” she said. “I don’t think that it is to the level where people would be endangered or anything like that, but it is just the fact that this new building is going to abut to people’s homes.”

Family Promise said Wednesday in a statement to WIVB News 4 that its “disappointed” by the denial, but respects the council’s decision.

“We will take this as an opportunity to regroup and continue working toward opening more safe spaces for the children and families experiencing homelessness in our community,” Family Promise said. “Our focus remains on providing vital support to families in crisis and ensuring they have access to the resources and care they deserve.”

Family Promise of WNY defends proposed homeless shelter

Everhart said community harmony was the main factor in the council’s decision, saying the council couldn’t move forward without an agreement between residents and Family Promise.

Watch News 4’s full interview with Everhart in the video player above.

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Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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