Tompkins County to develop Code Blue shelter at Cherry Street
Published on September 17, 2025
Tompkins County pursues partnership with Volunteers of America Upstate New York to develop emergency shelter and operate Code Blue shelter at Cherry Street in Ithaca
Tompkins County will establish its Code Blue shelter at the county-owned 227 Cherry Street location to prepare for the first freezing nights of this winter. The legislature approved a resolution on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, authorizing the development of the Cherry Street site for the 2025–26 Code Blue season. The county’s priorities are to meet its obligation to provide shelter when temperatures fall below 32 degrees with wind chill, quickly launch a safe and affordable location, and partner with an experienced service provider to operate the shelter.
Last year’s Code Blue location, the former KeyBank building, is slated for deconstruction later this fall. Another concept contemplated co-locating the county’s Code Blue shelter with the City of Ithaca’s planned Navigation Hub at the former Burger King site on Route 13. After careful consideration and analysis, legislators determined that utilizing the county-owned property on Cherry Street is a more responsible use of county resources. At the Route 13 site, renovation costs were estimated at $600,000-$750,000, including floodplain mitigation, water service upgrade, HVAC, plumbing, fire alarm system, and restroom and shower installation, in addition to annual leasing fees. The county also lacked confidence that the site could be ready by the first freezing nights due to permitting, leasing, and construction timelines. Because the county already owns the Cherry Street property, it can more quickly and economically open a safe, supervised Code Blue operation with an estimated upfitting cost of approximately $100,000 while long-term shelter planning continues.
The county prioritizes services over sites, so people have a safe place when the temperatures drop. This approach centers on the needs of people experiencing homelessness and gets doors open sooner. The Cherry Street property includes suitable physical structures and interior space sufficient for Code Blue sheltering and co-location of the Navigation Hub. Recognizing the benefits of having multiple services in one location directly accessible to individuals experiencing homelessness and to support coordinated services this winter, the county has invited the city to co-locate its Navigation Hub at Cherry Street this season and to continue discussions about a joint Code Blue shelter/Navigation Hub at the Route 13 site in future years.
Using the Cherry Street site as a Code Blue shelter for this winter season will not delay or hinder the construction of the planned purpose-built emergency shelter. The county is pursuing state grant funding to help offset construction costs and, following a request for qualifications process, has selected Volunteers of America Upstate New York (VOA) to partner in the development of the future purpose-built emergency shelter with the goal of VOA operating the new emergency shelter. The county is in active discussions with VOA about also operating the Code Blue shelter this season.
“Our job is to protect people on the first freezing night and to be good stewards of taxpayer dollars. Cherry Street delivers both, and we welcome the city to join us there with its Navigation Hub,” said Legislature Chair Dan Klein.
“We chose the option that gets people indoors sooner, because the people who need a warm, safe place come first. Cherry Street lets us open quickly and put resources where they matter most: people,” said County Administrator Korsah Akumfi.
“Renovating the Route 13 building would have required substantial investment in a site the county doesn’t own. At Cherry Street, we can adapt existing space, meet safety standards, and be ready much sooner at substantially lower cost,” said Facilities Director Arel LeMaro.
“With winter approaching fast, our focus is clear: doors open, trained staff in place, and a humane, low-barrier shelter available when it’s needed most. Lives depend on it," said Commissioner of Social Services Brittanie Earle.
“We’re grateful for the opportunity to work with Tompkins County on this shelter project and Code Blue season. For more than 100 years, VOA has been providing essential services to those in need, and this partnership allows us to extend that support to even more people across Upstate New York,” said Volunteers of America Upstate New York President and CEO Dr. Junior Dillion.