Screenshot courtesy of the city of Jamestown’s website Two issues with the city’s warming shelter were discussed during Monday night’s city council work session.

City Council members are hearing complaints about trash behind the city’s Code Blue warming shelter and complaints about what the homeless are doing when the warming shelter is closed.

A pile of garbage that has been accumulating at the ROME Code Blue warming center at 10th and Washington streets was discussed by city officials during Monday’s work session. Councilman Bill Reynolds, R-Ward 5 and Housing Committee chairman, said Kasie Foulk, city deputy director of housing policy and development, was aware of the issue and that letters had been sent to the building owner.

“Hopefully within a few days that unsightly mountain of trash — she said about 30 bags — will be removed and taken care of,” Reynolds said.

Additionally, Reynolds said there was talk about other ways of getting people out of the cold besides the warming center. He said it was reported that UPMC hallways are filled during the day where people come to get warm and get out of the weather.

Councilwoman Regina Brackman, R-Ward 3, added to that, saying another issue has come up about when people leave the warming center.

“Another issue that has come up is when people are leaving the warming center they are going up to that Robomart on Ninth Street and have been harassing the attendants there about staying, so that’s why I think we were talking about other places they can go during the daytime,” Brackman said. “It’s just quality of life. Nobody wants trash in their backyard and nobody wants to be harassed while they’re at work.”

Shelters throughout the region are full now that the weather has turned colder, according to discussion at a virtual Chautauqua County Homeless Coalition meeting last week. Liz Cardona, Dunkirk Housing Authority director, said there are homeless individuals sleeping in the authority’s stairwells, on benches and even in some people’s homes.

Toni Taylor of Recovery Options Made Easy, which operates the Washington Street shelter in Jamestown, said the shelter is at capacity while Katricia Nutting, a case manager with the United Christian Advocacy Network’s City Mission, reported that the mission is “currently at capacity with 17 guests, and that it was in the process of opening more bed space – jumping from 17 beds to 21.”

City officials also discussed the current status of Jamestown Business College, which has been donated to St. Susan Center and UCAN to help with the homeless situation in the city. Reynolds said it was reported that some of the planning and modifications are in progress for that. The college’s closure is expected to take place when the last of its students graduate this spring.