MOUNT MORRIS, N.Y., Feb. 28, 2025 — The Livingston County Department of Social Services (DSS), in partnership with Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston, has opened the area’s first Code Blue warming center on the County’s Murray Hill Campus.
Intended to provide a safe place for unhoused individuals 18 and older to stay during harsh winter weather, the new warming center operates from 4 p.m. to 8 a.m. when temperatures are forecasted to fall below 32 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill. The center provides guests with cots, a kitchen space, recreation areas, and bathroom facilities during their overnight stay. To date, ten individuals in need have used the facility since it opened earlier this month.
“We’re committed to ensuring that our most vulnerable residents have access to a warm and safe place during the winter months,” said DSS Commissioner Tracy McCaughey. “We’re offering not just a place to sleep in comfort, but also information on essential services that can help struggling individuals take those first steps toward long-term stability.”
Warming center staff will provide those who are referred to the center with information on available support services and resources through community partners, including mental health, drug/alcohol treatment, and domestic violence services, as well as assistance through DSS, such as Temporary Assistance, the Supplemental Nutrition Program, Medicaid, and Adult Protective Services.
The warming center is intended to provide single guests with temporary refuge from extreme cold. DSS officials encourage those in need of a warm location to contact them during business hours at 585-243-7300 to complete a preliminary assessment for temporary placement.
“Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston is excited to be partnering with Livingston County on this project,” said Amy Patterson, Catholic Charities Steuben/Livingston’s chief operating director. “We have dedicated staff working to support those in need by providing a warm location as well as referrals and resources to those utilizing the center. This aligns with our agency’s mission to support the most vulnerable populations. A warming center offers a safe and warm place for individuals who otherwise may not have alternate shelter overnight. Offering such services shows our community that we are committed to addressing their immediate needs and supporting those in crisis.”
The NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance provided Livingston County with a $300,000 allocation this year to support the setup and operation of the County’s Code Blue warming center. The United Way of Greater Rochester and the Finger Lakes provided warming kits for the facility, which included hygiene supplies and essential toiletry items. To help sustain the warming center’s operations, DSS officials are encouraging community donations in the form of new socks and undergarments for those warming center guests in need. Donations can be brought to the Livingston County Department of Social Services at 1 Murray Hill Drive, Mt. Morris, N.Y. 14510 during regular business hours from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
To refer an individual to the Code Blue warming center after hours, County officials are asking residents to contact the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office on their non-emergency phone line at 585-243-7100.
The warming center will close when Code Blue season ends. In general, this is when temperatures remain over 32 degrees Fahrenheit with wind chill for five consecutive days.
For more, contact the Livingston County Department of Social Services at 585-243-7300.
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About Livingston County:
Founded in 1821, Livingston County, N.Y., is home to more than 61,000 residents in 17 towns located across 631 square miles of the Finger Lakes region.