County legislator warns delay could jeopardize $13.5M shelter grant, pushing costs higher

At the Aug. 27 East Fishkill meeting, County Legislator Caswell warned that state funding for a planned homeless shelter in Poughkeepsie is at risk because the county legislature delayed a ratifying resolution.

Caswell said the county had identified 26 Oakley Street as a location for a consolidated shelter for single men and women and had secured a $13.5 million state grant to renovate the site. "By the legislature currently delaying this, we're at risk of losing that grant," he said, and estimated that delays and rebidding could push costs to roughly $15.5 million. He warned the grant deadline is near the end of September and that further delay would force the county to cover increased costs or reissue bids.

Caswell said the county's plan aims to provide centralized services — including mental health and substance‑use assistance — more efficiently than scattering small shelters across the county. He said mediation with city and county leaders had produced a compromise, but that Democratic legislative leadership tabled the resolution and delayed action.

The town board listened and said they would monitor the county process; Caswell said he would continue to press for resolution at the legislature's September session.