Imagine that a major storm pummels the region, bringing intense flooding, felling trees, cutting electricity and ultimately severely damaging many of the large housing structures.
Such a scenario could result in dozens and dozens of people being homeless –– those who are elderly, disabled or veterans, have mental health issues or have low or fixed household incomes.
With that kind of scenario, and others that could play out, a group of individuals from around the county is brainstorming to come up with an emergency sheltering plan. The ongoing local planning comes as Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, leaving heavy rainfall and major flooding –– and causing individuals to flee their homes.
“We are not far along enough to know a target date for the completion of the plan, or to know exactly how the public can be involved since we are currently doing research and exploring that,” said Lee Sizemore, administrator for the McKean County Department of Human Services.
Members of the planning team are researching such topics as housing, food supplies and transportation.
The main areas of concern in terms of housing are the Hotel Holley on Main Street, Bradford, which has 52 units; Emery Towers on Mechanic Street, Bradford, 101 units; High Rise on Bushnell Street, Bradford, 128 units; Orchard Place Apartments, Orchard Place, Bradford, 48 units; Central Towers, Greeves Street, Kane, 84 units; and New Thompson House, Greeves Street, Kane, 34 units.
“The group felt that any closure of 10 units or more would be the threshold reaching crisis, however, [the group] also felt that communication with the Housing Coalition would be important with any closures since it would reduce the pool of low-moderate range rentals,” officials said at an Aug. 25 planning meeting.
Locations where people could stay four or more days must be Americans with Disabilities Act accessible and contain bathrooms and showers, officials said. YWCA Bradford Homeless Shelter has a 21-bed capacity.
“In the event of a closure, a procedure would need to be in place to notify residents, agencies that could help with relocation, and a ‘family resource center’ or similar type set up for residents to receive information at a central location (like the Friendship Table or Public Library),” officials said.
Another aspect of the plan could involve transportation –– possibly through the Area Transit Authority of Central Pennsylvania, school districts or privately owned bus garages.
Food resources could also be secured through the Bradford Regional Medical Center’s Meals on Wheels, Friendship Table, churches and the local Ministerium, Masonic Lodge and possibly others like caterers. Clothing would also be needed and could possibly be secured through organizations such as Goodwill, Destinations-Bradford, the Salvation Army and the YWCA.
People aren’t the only ones who would need a place to stay. So would pets. The Commonwealth Animal Response Team could be brought in, officials said.
For information about resources, contact Homelessness and Housing Services at the McKean County Redevelopment and Housing Authority at 814-887-5563 or mchc@mckeancountypa.org.
