Today, January 17th, was supposed to be the official ribbon cutting for the Warming Center at 43 Duncan Street in the Village of Warsaw. Instead, Oak Orchard Health officials spoke about what the Warming Center does and how it differs from a shelter.
Oak Orchard Health announced the opening of their Warming Center on January 7th, and on January 8th were told they could not operate at 43 Duncan Street as a “warming shelter” with an overnight stay and that the location requires zoning approval by the Village of Warsaw and building permits from Wyoming County for a change of occupancy class.
Oak Orchard Health CEO, Karen Kinter, says they are working through the process with local Wyoming County governments. The Warming Center at Clarity Warsaw Clinic offers a safe warm place with snacks and toiletries and a connection to community partners and services. The Warming Center is only open on nights when it is 32 degrees or less during a Code Blue. Their number is 585-340-1355. At this time, it is unknown how long the process will take to attain permits to reopen the Warming Center.
Julie Carasone/Program Manager for Care Coordination & Engagement at Oak Orchard Health explains what the Warming Center does to Assemblyman David DiPietro on Friday afternoon.
Constituents for the Warming Center gathered at a press conference on Friday afternoon at 43 Duncan Street in the room that will be used for those looking to escape the cold when temperatures drop to 32 degrees and lower.
Video of Press Conference on January 17, 2025
Should anyone be surprised by this move? Allowing this warning shelter to open means that Wyoming County would first have to acknowledge the fact that there Is anyone in need of shelter or that there might be homeless people in this purfect little county.