ABOUT LOCAL "HOMELESS" ISSUES, PEEKSKILL ETC.---A LETTER FROM THE PEEKSKILL HERALD

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Getting lots of complaints about what appears to be a growing "homeless" presence in the area.  You are encouraged to contact village staff and/or officials.

This letter, from Judith Sage, touches upon the Peekskill and Mt. Kisco situations: 

June 4, 2024

To the editor:

I am writing to hopefully add some additional context to your reporting in your April 25 story “Homeless camp in Peekskill echoes national dilemma.” I am a resident of Mount Kisco where we have struggled to address multiple encampments with unsafe living conditions in wooded areas.

Peekskill has an impressive array of services including CHHOP (“Caring for the Hungry and Homeless of Peekskill”), according to your article.

The article also reported on plans to have a social worker with Westchester County’s “Safe Options Support Program” contact the individuals living in an encampment in Peekskill. I was myself unfamiliar with “Safe Options Support,” and did some research. I learned that this is a very new $34 million program with a focus on “recognizing the link between homelessness and behavioral health challenges” for those who have “unmet mental health needs.”

The longer-term plan anticipated for Peekskill is reported to be a link to “Search for Change.” Search for Change describes their mission as “dedicated to improving the quality of life and increasing self-sufficiency of individuals with emotional, social, and economic barriers.” The plan as reported in the article is for “Search for Change” to “build a rapport and try to get the encampment cleaned up.” The catch is, of course, that some will refuse to accept assistance. READ AND SEE MORE AT LETTER: Another option for addressing homeless encampments – Peekskill Herald