Syracuse City Council Homelessness and Housing Forum - October 28, 2026

This meeting was convened by Counselor Donna Moore, Chair of Public Safety and District 2 representative, to address community concerns about public safety, substance use, and visible homelessness in Syracuse. Representatives from leading service agencies, the school district, and individuals with lived experience provided testimony, largely shifting the framing of the issue from a behavioral crisis to a systemic housing market crisis driven by stagnant rental subsidies and a lack of deeply affordable units.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Megan Stewart (Housing and Homeless Coalition): Reported that 98% of the homeless population is in shelter nightly, representing one of the lowest unsheltered rates in New York State. Noted a 30% reduction in street homelessness in the past year. Asserted the core problem is that the DSS rental allowance of $386 per month cannot rent any apartment in the current market. The coordinated entry list has ~1,000 people, but only 15% are placed annually due to supply constraints.
• Michelle McElroy (ACR Health): Serves 10,000 individuals annually across nine counties. Stated the increased visibility of unhoused people is due to displacement from hidden encampments (e.g., Inner Harbor), not an increase in the homeless population itself.
• John Tamino (In My Father's Kitchen): Manages street outreach for 70+ individuals, 95% with co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders. Housed 27 people since May 1, 2026, and 499 over 15 years. Reported a shifting demographic: younger people (20-somethings) and more women. Estimated out-of-county influx at only ~2%.
• Scott (Lived Experience, 65): Described being beaten and robbed in the system. Stated Syracuse Police arrest people for trespassing and park ordinance violations due to lack of housing. Criticized agency coordination, saying applications can be dropped when starting with another provider. Attributed the drug crisis to a chemical called "spike" which induces violent psychosis. Pleaded for basic human dignity and visibility.
• Helio Health Representative (Mike): Served 20,000 people regionally in 2025. Operates a crisis intervention team in Syracuse. Confirmed the rise of "spike" causing psychosis-like symptoms, complicating diagnosis. Highlighted the severe staffing crisis and low wages as a barrier to expanding services.
• Mike Malara (Catholic Charities): Runs an 80-bed men's shelter (often housing 100+) and a hospitality center serving 40-50 people nightly who refuse shelter. Provides case management for 70-80 families in motels. Advocated for a 24/7 hospitality center model to provide continuous, safe engagement.
• Janel Milana (Syracuse City School District): Reported a 10% identification rate for students experiencing unstable housing, including an increase in unaccompanied youth. Outlined the profound academic and emotional trauma: long bus rides, inability to stabilize, increased anxiety, and substance use among youth.
• Laquita Drummond (Lived Experience): Stated she does not fit the categorical requirements (no chronic illness, mental health diagnosis, or substance abuse) yet has been homeless for two years. Criticized warming center rules (sleeping in chairs, forced eviction at 6 AM with all bags). Alleged drug use and inconsistent enforcement at the Rescue Mission. Implored the council to "see us" and address the system's dehumanization.
• Mohammed Cham (Community Advocate): Proposed learning from cities like Denver. Argued for job creation as a key component of dignity and stability. Called for a formal consensus-building process between the city, county, and all stakeholders.

Discussion Items

• Crisis Framing: Housing Market vs. Behavioral Health: A strong consensus emerged among providers and councilors that the primary driver is the lack of deeply affordable/low-income housing. Councilor Cloud argued for returning to the "low-income housing" model (30-50% AMI) over "affordable housing" (70-80% AMI), citing the demolition of Cherry Hill and loss of other complexes as direct causes of displacement.
• Substance Use Trends ("Spike"): A councilor noted increased aggression. Scott and the Helio representative confirmed "spike" is a highly dangerous synthetic drug causing violent psychosis, making it difficult to distinguish from severe mental illness.
• Barriers to New Shelter Models: Counselor Moore's proposal for a massive pod-style facility (modeled after Milwaukee) was met with cautious optimism. Providers warned that the staffing crisis (low wages, high turnover for licensed clinicians) is a massive obstacle. In My Father's Kitchen raised concerns about safety in large congregate settings.
• Geographic Concentration of Services: A discussion on whether shelters could be sited in rural areas to aid recovery. Providers cited funding rules (cost per unit calculations, accessibility, proximity to bus lines and support services) as systemic barriers to deconcentrating services from the urban core.

Key Outcomes

• Continued Collaboration: Counselor Moore committed the City Council to an ongoing partnership with the County Legislature (meeting scheduled for November 16, 2026) and the service providers, explicitly including the perspectives of individuals with lived experience (Scott and Laquita).
• Identification of Systemic Gaps: Major gaps identified include the need for a 24/7 low-barrier engagement center, an update to the DSS rental budget, better agency coordination to prevent clients losing their place on housing lists, and a strategy to address the synthetic drug crisis.
• Shift in Public Narrative: The forum successfully broadened the conversation from personal failings and law enforcement to systemic housing market failure, stagnant subsidies, and the need for significant investment in permanent supportive housing and deeply affordable units.