BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) \u2014 A former Buffalo school building is set to become a winter weather shelter for people experiencing homelessness. Erie County has already approved the deal, but a Buffalo lawmaker is raising concerns.<\/p>\n
Starting November 1, Erie County is entering into a multi-year lease-agreement with Ellicott Development to turn the former Buffalo Creek Academy at 514 to 528 South Park Avenue into a 200-bed shelter. Erie County Executive Mark Poloncarz told me it’s part of the state’s Code Blue program and will act as a secondary location alongside Buffalo City Mission.<\/p>\n
“We need it, it’s as simple as that,” Poloncarz said. “I wish we didn’t. I wish we had people who were not homeless or needing temporary assistance but when people are homeless you gotta help them.”<\/p>\n
WATCH: Former Buffalo school to become winter Code Blue shelter<\/p>\n
Former Buffalo school to become winter Code Blue shelter<\/p>\n
The county is required by state law to provide shelter to those experiencing homelessness during inclement weather, when the temperature drops below 32 degrees fahrenheit. <\/p>\n
But Buffalo Common Councilmember Leah Halton-Pope is speaking out against the plans. The Buffalo lawmaker sent a letter<\/a> to the county executive and to the area’s county legislator, Lawrence Dupre, asking them to reconsider. <\/p>\n The property lies in the city’s Fillmore District but is adjacent to the Ellicott District which Halton-Pope represents. She said she learned about the plans through her constituents at the nearby Perry Homes.<\/p>\n “Do we need a Code Blue shelter? 100% we do,” Halton-Pope said. “But where we put these things really matters.”<\/p>\n