Olean to Address Homeless Crisis with Bold New Plan: Housing Complex Slated for West Henley Street
Mayor Shurburne calls initiative "a step toward dignity, not just development."
OLEAN, NY — In a move that has drawn both praise and puzzled stares from across the Twin Tiers, the City of Olean announced today its ambitious plan to convert a stretch of unused land on West Henley Street—between 17th and 19th Streets—into a transitional housing complex aimed at tackling the city’s growing homeless population.
The project, tentatively dubbed “Second Start Village,” will include temporary housing units, wraparound support services, and what officials are describing as “a judgment-free zone where hope is the default setting.”
Mayor Amy Shurburne, flanked by representatives from Covenant House and the Coalition for the Homeless, made the announcement at a hastily arranged press conference in front of the Olean Sewer Treatment Plant. The mayor, wielding a binder full of grant applications, didn’t mince words.
“We’ve got empty land. We’ve got people without homes. I figured, why not get a little wild and solve both problems at once?” said Shurburne, drawing chuckles from the audience. “If that sounds radical, maybe the real issue is that compassion’s become controversial.”
The city has partnered with several national and regional nonprofits to shape the initiative, including Covenant House, known for its work with runaway youth, and the Coalition for the Homeless, whose spokesperson said they were “shocked Olean knew who we were.”
While local internet forums lit up with the usual fears of property values and unwashed masses, the mayor dismissed the backlash.
“You can’t expect people to get back on their feet if you don’t even give them a floor to stand on,” Shurburne said. “This is not a handout. It’s a step-up with a roof.”
A Mosaic of Help
In addition to architectural planning and social services input from their nonprofit partners, the city is applying for a suite of federal funding sources. These include:
- Continuum of Care (CoC) grants from HUD to support long-term housing strategies.
- Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) for those who served and are struggling.
- Runaway and Homeless Youth (RHY) programs aimed at preventing teens from slipping through the cracks.
But perhaps the most eyebrow-raising element is the city’s intention to apply for funding to establish what Mayor Shurburne called a “Compassionate Safe Haven” for individuals actively struggling with heroin addiction.
“Look, we can wag our fingers at people with addiction, or we can offer them a place to stabilize, detox, and reclaim their lives,” the mayor said. “The former is easier. The latter is actually useful.”
Community Reaction Mixed, Mostly Mumbled
Reactions from locals ranged from cautiously supportive to what one might describe as “nostalgic nihilism.”
“I mean, if it keeps people from sleeping under the West State bridge, I’m for it,” said Gerald T., a local convenience store owner. “But I still think we should just build another Tim Hortons.”
City Council members were reportedly briefed on the plan via a very long group email, which several admitted they had not read past the phrase “federal funding.”
The Road Ahead
If all goes to plan, ground could be broken by spring of next year. The development would include 25 modular housing units, a 24/7 support center staffed by caseworkers, on-site medical and addiction care, and possibly a therapy goat—though city attorneys are still clarifying insurance coverage.
“We’re not trying to save the world,” said Mayor Shurburne, looking out over the undeveloped field that might soon be home to second chances. “Just this one little piece of it.”
Construction permitting begins next month. Critics are encouraged to file their complaints directly at City Hall.