WPCNR COUNTY CLARION-LEDGER. By John F. Bailey. December 9, 2004, UPDATED 2 P.M. with balance of Interview: In an exclusive interview with the White Plains CitizeNetReporter, Chair of the County Board of Legislators, White Plains'  Bill Ryan gave WPCNR an update on the Samaritan House crisis saying it was going to remain open in 2005, because he wants it to remain open.

County Legislator Bill Ryan, June, 2004. Photo, WPCNR News Archive.

 Ryan said that he has extracted assurances from the Department of Social Services and Grace Community Services that both organizations want to keep the White Plains homeless shelter for women open, and that Grace Community Services has already reduced its budget request submitted yesterday during their meeting with Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz. Ryan said he expected negotiations to be wrapped up by the end of next week, and indicated residents of Grace Samaritan House should stop looking for another place to live.

Ryan said he met at 1 P.M. with Lois Bronz, County Legislator, Reverend Janet Vincent, Joseph D’Ambrosio, and a member of the Grace Community Services Board.  “I told them I was not interested in who said what to whom. I told them it was time to move on. At 4 P.M. there was a nuts and bolts meeting, which I understand dealt with revised budget request.”

Deputy County Executive Larry Schwartz arriving  at the Schwartz Summit at Samaritan, Wednesday afternoon. Photo by WPCNR News.

Ryan said the 4 o’clock  Schwartz Summit at Samaritan was “the first of a number of meetings they’re going to have.”

Regarding the 1 o’clock meeting with Grace Church players, Ryan said “It’s my sense there’s been a misunderstanding as to what the other side is saying. I told them I wasn’t interested in who said what to whom. I told them to move on.”

Ryan also said that community leader Bill Campbell was at the 1 P.M. meeting, as well as Tom Roach, the White Plains Common Council President.

Mayor Delfino on Sidelines

Mayor Joseph Delfino, the Mayor of White Plains has not issued a statement on that matter, except through a spokesperson for the Mayor’s office who told WPCNR yesterday the Mayor supported keeping the center open, the first indication the Mayor has indicated support for the shelter.

The Mayor’s spokesperson said the Mayor had been invited to attend a meeting of a group of White Plains clergy to discuss the matter of the closing, as well as Mr. Roach. Mr. Roach had said at the time the Mayor was supportive of the shelter.

Ryan continued his report on his 1 o’clock warmup with Grace officials, Lois Bronz and Tom Roach meeting Wednesday.

“What I told them was this: I have a budget that I expect to have the County Board approve Monday. I told Janet (Vincent), I explained there is money in the 2005 budget for a contract for Samaritan House, subject to their (Samaritan House) ability to find remedial cost issues,  that should not be a complicated item to deal with if (Samaritan House) can justify costs. The D.S.S. is prepared to fund reasonable cost increases. “

Not a Big Loser.

Ryan told WPCNR that it in his opinion, “My position is that Samaritan House was one of the last shelters that would ever close.”

Ryan disclosed that he had asked for a list of homeless shelters open in the last year that the Department of Social Services was planning on closing, and that Samaritan House was not on that list.

Ryan said when he heard of the Samaritan House closing news, he also asked for a ranking of shelters by their costs of operation, and requested that of the Department of Social Services. When it was supplied within five hours of his request, Samaritan House was not high on the list.

Chides Samaritan House for Overreacting.

Ryan indicated he was perturbed with the attitude of Samaritan House and Grace Community Services reaction of announcing they were closing, “When you asked for help in July with concerns, you do not simply throw up your hands,” Ryan said.

Asked if the Samaritan House operation could be funded out of the County Legislator budget surplus, Ryan said, “As the budget is rolled, you have a little more ability to find funds than you may have thought you did.”

By the same token, Ryan said, he trusted the administrative agencies, “the professionals” in county government, to treat service organizations with respect and cooperate. He said he as a legislator was disturbed when he felt that agencies and service organizations could not work collaboratively. He said that as a legislator he is always open when organizations providing services to county government feel they are not being treated fairly. "They run into a buzz saw when they reach the County Board. I won't stand for that."

Asked if he had any idea why there was all the mystery around the contract negotiation and  Samaritan House had refused to open its books to the Department of Social Services when asked to do so,  whether the Department of Social Services suspected any wrong-doing or poor accounting, Ryan said, “You’re absolutely right. I can’t put my finger on it.”

A Three Person Shelter Legal for 14 Clients?

WPCNR also asked Mr. Ryan if Samaritan House could operate the shelter with only three persons, and was allowed to trim staff based on number of clients serviced. Mr. Ryan did not know, saying that was a good question.

 Sources in the city government and familiar with the homeless shelter state requirements have said homeless shelters are required to have 9 persons on staff (3 staff members for each 8 hour period),at all times to keep a shelter for 20 persons open, Ryan said that was a good question and he would ask the Department of Social Services to explain that to WPCNR. 

The cutback to three persons, in effect for almost three weeks, according to Reverebd George Sinzer, has resulted in one client left to sleep on the steps of the shelter just inside the doorway one night.

Whistle Blower Not Sure.

Reverend George Sinzer who broke the news of the closing to NewsCenter 4 November , told WPCNR Thursday morning,  it was his understanding that any homeless shelter not having 24/7 staffing of 9 persons for 20 people, would have to shut down immediately.

WPCNR awaits the Department of Social Services explanation as to whether it allows homeless shelters in the county are to trim their staffing based on number of clients served, either because of caseload, or because of anticipated closing and keep the money budgeted (to keep staff members on call on a freelance, as needed basis.)

Ryan was puzzled. He said “I don’t know. They are audited.”

The Future Looks Good.

Ryan said the Crisis Developed Because of a Discontinuence in the Talks.

“ Why they stopped talking. That’s history,” Ryan said. “All I said to them (Samaritan House) was do you want to stay open. The church said Yes. I asked the Department of Social Services do you want them to continue? They said Yes. All that’s left is the terms of the contract.”

Ryan said Samaritan House will not be terminated in 2005.

He expected the contract between D.S.S. and Samaritan House to be finalized by the end of next week after the budget is passed, and that that is what the parties agreed to find a way to do yesterday.

Samaritan House Residents Not Informed Positively Yet.

Samaritan House has not been informed of this upturn in the Samaritan House gloom, according to what WPCNR has found, that the house will remain open, just a cryptic note according to another news medium that the talks were “ positive and productive.”