Referred to:  The Health, Human Services and Housing Committee (Chairman Uchitelle and Legislators Corcoran, Erner, Lopez, Nolan, Petit, and Stewart), and The Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation Committee (Chairwoman Petit and Legislators Erner, Fabiano, Litts, and Nolan)

Legislator Phil Erner offers the following:

WHEREAS, the Ulster County Legislature finds that housing is a natural right; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Social Services (DSS) has certain responsibilities to the people of Ulster County to provide temporary assistance (TA) in the form of temporary and emergency housing; and

WHEREAS, at present the people of Ulster County have an especially acute need for TA housing; and

WHEREAS, DSS is struggling to identify sufficient space to fulfill that need; and

WHEREAS, Ulster County possesses property throughout the County; and

WHEREAS, the Legislature believes that publicly owned property belongs to the people; and

WHEREAS, the people have the right to survive by any means necessary that does not jeopardize others’ ability to do so; and

WHEREAS, County administration has undertaken a Study of County-owned space; now, therefore be it

RESOLVED, that Ulster County shall guarantee the people’s right to housing by using the results of the Study to determine and open for public access County property suitable for the unhoused people of Ulster County to use as temporary homes or shelters,

and move its adoption.

ADOPTED BY THE FOLLOWING VOTE:

AYES:                       NOES:    

Passed Committee: Health, Human Services and Housing on ____________.

Passed Committee: Public Works, Capital Projects and Transportation on ____________.

FINANCIAL IMPACT:

NONE