East Side residents voice concern about proposed homeless shelter

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) – Some residents on Buffalo’s East Side are concerned about another homeless shelter being built in their neighborhood.

They’re taking those concerns right to City Hall to put the project on pause.

On Wednesday, a public hearing was held on the proposed homeless shelter. Residents who live by the site, on East Ferry Street near Jefferson Avenue, say they’ve been blindsided by the proposal and don’t think the shelter fits in the neighborhood.

Family Promise of Western New York is the organization proposing the emergency homeless shelter.

“It seems like it’s transient, being brought into my neighborhood, just so I can go out enjoy, walk, sit, I go out all hours of the night on my patio, sit and enjoy,” said Sandara Baines, a city resident who lives near the proposed site. “I want to continue to do that without fear of something happening to me.”

The shelter would have 40 beds and cost $7 million. Residents attending Wednesday’s zoning board meeting say this process has not been transparent and they’re wondering why this project is being eyed in their community.

“Our whole thing is, if there’s 1,600 vacant lots within our city, that’s quoted on Business First in March 23, 2023 article, then why can’t they choose somewhere else to put it besides in the middle of our residential area?,” said Thanya McKinnon, a city resident.

Family Promise, which already operates a small homeless shelter on Hickory Street, says that Erie County approached them about building another shelter to address rising homelessness in the area. The organization is trying to calm fears about the proposal, saying their shelter model is focused on families.

“I absolutely do hear what the neighbors are saying, we realize that we need to slow down and engage the community more. We fully intend to do that,” said Luanne Firestone, the executive director of Family Promise of WNY.

The project has already been approved by the city’s planning board. Common Council needs to approve it as well. At Wednesday’s zoning board meeting, members took no action on the proposal.

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