Like many communities across our state and country, Albany County is facing a housing crisis, with an unprecedented shortage of emergency housing available to support individuals experiencing homelessness. Our Department of Social Services works daily to address these shortfalls, but continues to face difficulties in identifying adequate emergency housing and providing supportive services to those in need of such housing. Recently, New York State declared a State Disaster Emergency as a result of an expected surge of migrants seeking shelter, and we expect that any surge locally will exacerbate our housing shortages and put a strain on our support systems in place. 

As County Executive, my first priority is to the safety and wellbeing of everyone within Albany County.   Allowing for the transportation of busloads of migrant families within our County communities without a plan and without clear communication does not protect our residents and it does not protect the migrant families seeking asylum.   

Open communication is key to planning and understanding.  All of our residents and our potential new residents have the right and reasonable expectation for a thoughtful planned out solution. Working together with partners at state, county and local level, together with non-profit community organizations we can achieve success; not through a unilateral decision of one city.  I have continued dialogue with the Governor’s Office, her Commissioners, as well as fellow County Executives across the state facing the same challenges, including Monroe County Executive Adam Bello.  

Today, County Executive Bello and I, are both issuing similar States of Emergency And Emergency Orders relating to the housing and migrant crisis that is affecting every community.  These Orders do not prevent migrants from entering our counties.  Rather, these Orders provide an avenue to allow resources to be allocated toward a collaborated and coordinated solution. Further, these Orders ensure that our residents have information and notice of what is happening relating to migrants entering our communities and also provides assurances that require a deliberate plan capable of execution.   I am hopeful that these requirements ensure the proper dignity and respect for all persons.

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