In
September of 1991 a community forum on the homeless resulted
in the formation of the Shelters of Saratoga, a coalition
of agencies, city government officials and interested citizens.
The critical need for an available shelter for the city’s
homeless men during the frigid weather led to a grassroots
initiative for setting up an emergency shelter.
Shelters of Saratoga opened the doors of its first shelter
at St. Clement’s Church in January 1992, with beds
for up to six homeless men. On January 15th 1992, the six
bed shelter moved to a two bedroom mobile home on East Beekman
Street that provided eight beds.
In 1994, Shelters of Saratoga received a $35,000 grant from
the NYS Department of Social Services Emergency Shelter
Grant Program enabling Shelters of Saratoga to hire a Project
Director and a part time Shelter Monitor.
In 1995 Shelters of Saratoga received $80,000 from a city
funded Community Development Block Grant and $45,000 from
the Emergency Shelter Grant Program. SOS also received two
low interest loans from the Capital District Community Loan
Fund and the Saratoga National Bank for the construction
of a new fourteen-bed shelter for men and women.
In June 1997, the construction of the new shelter was completed
and opened its doors to serve the homeless population. Since
then, Shelters of Saratoga has expanded its services and
has served approximately 250 unduplicated clients annually.
