Hamburg, N.Y. (WBEN) - Residents are concerned with the temporary homeless shelter at the former Comfort Inn in Hamburg, as crime rates continue to climb.
Erie County Legislator John Gilmour says he's been working with Mayor Tom Tallman and the Chief of Police, as well as the Department of Social Security (DSS) to come up with a better plan.
"We've had multiple meeting with DSS regarding the escalation in crime since some of these homeless people have been housed there. We're working with both them and the sheriff's office to try to beef up patrols in the area, to give the village police some support to try to mitigate some of this," stated Gilmour in an interview with WBEN.
Gilmour explains that while the hotel provides the homeless with a chance at a better life, they do not have the right to stay if they commit a crime.
"The Chief of Police sends these reports over to the Department of Social Services if they're arrested, if they're involved in illegal activity, domestic violence, anything along those features. If there's any police contact, we report it to the primary social services, and then they then remove them," Gilmour said.
Gilmour says this issue has been on his radar for some time now, and expects the homeless to be relocated to an area that can better serve them.
"We're collaborating with the department social services and the county to resolve the issue," he said. "From our latest meeting that happened less than three weeks ago, we're hopeful that this is going to resolve - that they're going to be moving to more suitable housing that's in a better area where there's more resources readily available for them, easier for them to get around. Obviously, camp roads not the greatest location. There's not a lot of bussing or public transportation. So we're hopeful that this is going to be resolved in the near future."