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The new wing at the Rescue Mission, which opened Sept. 30, offers homeless guests access to iPads, laundry and a fitness center. It is the first time the agency has offered beds to women, as well as men.
(Marnie Eisenstadt)
SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse's Rescue Mission today opened a $7.2 million wing that today that will, for the first time, open the shelter to women as well as men.
But that wasn't the big news at the homeless agency's ribbon cutting. The Rescue Mission will get $8 million in state money for 68 apartments for homeless men and women. The money will fund half of a new facility on the Rescue Mission's Syracuse's campus. The total cost of the building will be roughly $16 million.
The money was announced as part of Gov. Andrew Cuomo's "Capital for a Day" series of events in Syracuse by Sam Roberts, the commissioner of the state Office for Temporary and Disability Assistance. Roberts, a former Syracuse state Assembly member, made the announcement in a tent outside the new Rescue Mission wing.
The timing for construction of the apartments hasn't been finalized yet because the group still needs to get the other half of the money, said Alan Thornton, CEO of the Rescue Mission. It will be built on the spot where there are currently 60 apartments. Those apartments will be razed and replaced in the new building, which will have a total of 128 units. (The state funding is for the 68 new units).
The new building at the Rescue Mission that opened today is at 122 Dickerson St. It will be open 24 hours and adds 51 beds to make the total number of beds onsite 183.
There are mental health services, health services, access to iPads, laundry and a fitness center in the new building.
Roberts, who was speaking on Cuomo's behalf at the event, said the governor wants to "end homelessness." He also mentioned $6.4 million for homeless housing in Auburn, $496,000 for a small homeless housing project in Oswego County and $1 million for a homeless housing project in Madison County. The Auburn project is already underway, Roberts said.
"The governor is trying to address real issues," Roberts said.
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