Olean May Create Task Force on Homelessness

OLEAN, NY — The Common Council on Tuesday is scheduled to consider a resolution that would establish a Homelessness Task Force.

According to the resolution, “Homelessness is a critical issue facing our nation, New York, Cattaraugus County, and the City of Olean, and is a humanitarian crisis that threatens the health, safety, security, and well-being of our community.”

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The task force, if established, will identify ways to contain the problem of homelessness, help keep the homeless safe and provide residents with a sense of safety.

“A recent State of Emergency declared in the nearby City of Jamestown, New York, has helped bring the issue of homelessness to the forefront, and the City of Olean would like to take efforts to prevent a similar situation from occurring within the city,” the resolution reads.

Jamestown Mayor Kimberly Ecklund declared a State of Emergency on July 25 because of “an estimated 300 unauthorized people camping on both public and private land, creating severe impacts on public health, safety, and city resources.”

Olean will seek representatives of Cattaraugus Community Services, the Olean Drug Treatment Court, Connecting Communities in Action, CASA (Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse) Trinity, the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services, local churches and universities, and other community and civic groups to serve on the task force.

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“The task force will collaborate on various tasks to envision the future of homelessness services within the community, including community engagement, emergency services, provider coordination, housing, and funding,” the resolution reads.

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