Wendel: Hotel Operators Are Neglecting Facilities Housing Homeless People

There's plenty of blame to go around regarding efforts to house the homeless in Chautauqua County lately. That frustration is being expressed by County Executive P.J. Wendel, who says there are problems with the homeless themselves, but it's moreso with hotel operators who are getting state money to do it and not taking care of their facilities. Wendel says for example, the owners of the former EconoLodge in Fredonia (pictured) said they would improve that facility, but have not...

P.J. Wendel: operators are to blame

Wendel says the state is reimbursing local hotels $101 per day for housing homeless people. He says if the county were able to do it in one centralized facility, they could better regulate it...

P.J. Wendel: why the county can't do it now

Meanwhile, part of the Clarion Pointe in the Town of Ellicott was recently condemned due to the conditions there, and the homeless at that facility were relocated to the Quality Inn and Budget Inn in Falconer. Wendel says the county has received correspondences from the owners of both the Clarion Pointe and former EconoLodge, asking for more homeless to help financially.

File photo