11-16-06 County Executive Diana Announces the Closing of Camp LaGuardia Homeless Shelter

Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda I. Gibbs and Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Robert Hess today announced the closure of the Camp LaGuardia Homeless Shelter. The 1,000 person facility, located in the Towns of Chester and Blooming Grove, is the largest shelter for homeless single adults for New York City. The shelter, which has been operational by the City since 1934, will close by June 2007.

“I must thank New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, Deputy Mayor for Health and Human Services Linda Gibbs and Commissioner of Homeless Services Robert Hess for all the hard work they have put forward with regard to our request that the City close Camp LaGuardia,” said Orange County Executive Edward A. Diana. ”The announcement that Camp LaGuardia will soon be closing is a tremendous accomplishment for Orange County and in particular those residents living and working near that facility. We have great plans for the future of that site that will enhance the quality of life for all the residents of Orange County.”

“I would be remiss if I did not take a moment to extend my gratitude to County Attorney David Darwin for the hard work he personally put forward to make this a reality,” said County Executive Diana.

Orange County has many uses for the facility once the County acquires the site. The transformation of the 253-acre shelter will include Workforce Housing for Orange County residents, expanding our home delivered meal program for our senior population with an enhanced centralized kitchen facility, storage of the County’s modern new election machines, open space preservation as well as  commercial and economic development opportunities.

“This is a great day for Orange County,” said Legislative Chairman William Lahey. “I want to extend my deep appreciation and gratitude to County Executive Diana and County Attorney David Darwin for single-handedly making this day possible.”

“The closing of Camp LaGuardia is a milestone that tells us our plans are working,” said Deputy Mayor Gibbs. “We knew the City’s Five Year action plan, and its goal of decreasing the number of homeless by two-thirds by 2009, was ambitious. While it is hard to move from the impermanency of long term homelessness to the stability of a home, today’s announcement shows that it can be done.”

“A shelter is not a home, nor is it an effective long term solution to homelessness,” said Commissioner Hess. “Our strategies of prevention, supportive housing and rental assistance are paying off, and by closing Camp LaGuardia we’ll be able to reinvest in our programs that will help further reduce dependency on the shelter system.”

Established as a shelter for New York City’s homeless in 1934, the 253-acre

Camp straddles the towns of Chester and Blooming Grove. The facility was built in 1918 and served as a correctional facility for women until 1934 when it was transferred to the City’s Welfare Department and named “Camp Greycourt.” The camp was renamed “Camp LaGuardia” in 1935. The purpose of the camp was to provide temporary relief for the unemployed. Prior to World War II and through the late 1950’s, the camp included 191-acre farm, which provided food for the residents and to which up to 150 residents were assigned to work. A 1958 report from the City’s Department of Welfare noted that the farm harvested 184,572 pounds of potatoes with a valuation of $8,129. 

For more information about this news release, please contact Ann Marie Maglione, Assistant to the County Executive, at 291-2705.