ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With freezing temperatures and shelters reaching capacity, the weight of the unhoused population has been an increasing issue for both the homeless community and its shelters. One organization is attempting to keep the homeless crisis from a catastrophe.

What You Need To Know

  • Homelessness in New York state has grown sharply, more than doubling between Jan. 2022 and Jan. 2024, according to a report released today by New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli

  • Homelessness grew by 53.1% from Jan. 2023 to Jan. 2024, more than four times the rest of the nation, according to the report

  • The number of guests in Open Door Mission’s emergency shelters are the highest they have been in its almost 75 year history. Staff says the increase is the result of many factors including: an increase in individuals battling addiction; untreated mental illness; the adverse effects of New York State’s changing laws; decreased supply of independent, safe affordable housing; and decreased funding for emergency beds

  • Open Door Mission has two crisis shelters – Samaritan House located at 210 West Main St. and Selah House located at 156 North Plymouth Ave.

“We have been feeling it not only with the cold snap this week, but all year and really for the past several years,” Open Door Mission CEO Anna Valeria said. “I've been at the Mission for 11 years. High numbers for us in the winter hovered around the 70 number. We're now, a low number for us, 117.”

According to a recent report released by the New York Comptroller Office, homelessness in the state is growing faster than the national rate, with the number of homeless people doubling between 2022 and 2024.

“We've been seeing these numbers rising for a long time,” Valeria said. “And so that's why we have our cold-water house for, you know, for moms and kids and we have to have partnerships with local hotels because there's no there's no model. The government really has not addressed this issue. So we have, you know, we've been carrying the issue privately for a long time now.”

Open Door Mission has been providing essential supplies, food, clothing, resources and housing across six different locations.

“We've been feeling the effects, but we've been blessed to be in a position where we can provide that support and provide individuals with things that they may need to help, you know, through those moments,” clothing room coordinator Nicole Coleman said. 

Anna Valeria has found numerous factors contributing to the increase in those unhoused. From lack of affordable housing, domestic violence and mental illness.

“Something is seriously going wrong in the health care system, because we are getting about 20 drop off a week from people being discharged from a medical facility, sometimes only wearing a gown and socks,” Valeria said. “What we are now trying to do is just try to find other places to place them. But unfortunately, sometimes they just have to stay with us because there's no place for them to go.

Finding throughout several of their locations- an alarming rate of youth in need.

“This is a population that has largely been left behind,” Valeria said. “It's hard for them to qualify because like families, oftentimes this population are, you know, kind of couch surfing or doubled up, HUD and New York State do not recognize them as homeless. So the resources aren't available to them. So that's why when we say this one size fits all approach is just not working now it's actually good that we're finally getting the numbers to back up what we've been seeing, because so many of these individuals and families are flying under the radar, so they're not being counted.”

Seeing shelter policies, hurting more than helping the community it was designed for, Valeria continues to advocate for diversifying its housing models. 

“I love that we're able to help people without any stipulations,” Coleman said. “You know, there is no background check, no verification, no referrals needed. We just help the community.”

“We stand out because of the culture we create in our shelter,” Valeria said. “We always have a message of hope and encouragement and helping people identify themselves as something other than their circumstances and their background. There's this gap, you know, that the government has left wide open. So I thoroughly expect us to continue to grow as long as the community continues to support us.”

The number of guests in Open Door Mission’s emergency shelters are the highest they have been in its almost 75-year history. Staff says the increase is the result of many factors including: an increase in individuals battling addiction; untreated mental illness; the adverse effects of New York state’s changing laws; decreased supply of independent, safe affordable housing; and decreased funding for emergency beds. Open Door Mission has two crisis shelters, Samaritan House located at 210 West Main St. and Selah House located at 156 North Plymouth Ave., to help address the growing need. 

Open Door Mission shares they are always looking for basic need items: hygiene products, non-perishable food, sheets, clothing and blankets. For more information on donations or volunteering, you can visit here.