Albany County SHIP opens wing for homeless women, children
ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- Albany County Sheriff Craig Apple announced the opening of a new wing for the Sheriff's Homeless Improvement Program (SHIP). Originally opening in November 2020, the decommissioned jail housing unit was transitioned into housing and has served 497 homeless people.
This new wing will house women and children specifically. There are 18 single rooms with two to three room suites on the first floor and 20 single rooms on the second floor.
The wing will officially open on Friday at 10:30 a.m. It is located at 800 Old Albany Shaker Road in Albany.
SHIP gets clothing donations for both men and women and currently has a small supply of hygiene and feminine products. Sheriff Apple said the program will need help with getting disposable diapers and baby wipes.
This program assists the residents with both job and housing searches while they are living in temporary housing. Housing referrals are done with Catholic Charities and the Housing Inventory Count with CARES of New York and other agencies.
Sheriff Apple noted that the renovation of the decommissioned jail into housing was made possible through a grant of $500,000 from Congressman Paul Tonko's office. The sheriff's office also received assistance from Broadview Federal Credit Union.