In March, this year, the Chenango County Sheriff's Office and City of Norwich cleared trash from a large homeless encampment near Norwich, located just outside city limits behind the buildings in the Norwich south plaza. (Photo by Tyler Murphy)

NORWICH – Citing a notable increase in the area’s homeless population, the Chenango County Department of Social Services (DSS) is looking to transfer more than $600,000 within its own budget to cover the escalating costs associated with temporary placements.

DSS Commissioner Daniel Auwarter made the case for an interbudget transfer before the county’s Health and Human Services Committee on Monday, telling committee members that the department’s nearly 75 percent over budget for its safety net programming. He’s seeking permission to reallocate a total $666,000 from other DSS budget line items to its emergency services and other safety net programs.

Auwarter said DSS has the money to cover the costs in vacant personnel and unused budgetary lines; but the county should advocate for additional support from New York State to help shoulder the financial burden related to the statewide homelessness dilemma.

Under state law, individual counties are required to find housing for individuals eligible for assistance through the state-run Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) guidelines or other safety net programs. Because there’s no homeless shelter in Chenango County, DSS routinely turns to hotels to house individuals in need.

“I think the state has to come through with some realistic funds to cover the pragmatic fact that we have no place to be sheltered other than a hotel,” said Auwarter. “Hotels are very expensive – 70 or 80 dollars a night.”