United Way's CEO/Executive Director Erin Matt tells us they’ve been able to keep up with connecting the homeless with the services they need, but the demand has been steady so far.

"It becomes a challenge when you talk about relocating a large group of people at once, at the same time, but when we’re talking about a staggered approach, which is really what has been done over the summer months, that tends to be more effective because there are available housing options."

There is a shortage of affordable housing options, so what would happen if a large housing facility like the Olbiston were to shut down? City of Utica's Mayor Robert Palmieri talked about the City's commitment. 

"At this time, God forbid that did happen, we would be able to furnish enough support for them until such time we could find them a long-term solution to the problem…. To the point we will never allow them to go back on the streets."

There is a number of low income housing projects in the works, but until they’re completed the United Way is pleading to landlords to consider taking in the people in need.

"The challenge is greater when you start to look at multiple or dozens of housing units available at the same time. So there are options. It’s more that it’s just kind of a sliding scale of when they become available."

Stay with us on Thursday when we address mental illness, and the transition from temporary housing to permanent living quarters.