Approximately 25 protesters gathered outside a Tuesday Tompkins County Legislature meeting to demand a “better” Code Blue Shelter that “[stops] rejecting imperfect cases” from homeless people seeking shelter, according to an Instagram announcement. They called upon shelters to be more inclusive, including not barring those with pets, many personal belongings and more from services.
Local progressive organizations Food Not Bombs and the Ithaca Tenants Union organized the protest and called for the community to either give public comment at the meeting or “keep yelling” as the Tompkins County Legislature held their regular meeting at 121 East Court St. The protest began around 30 minutes before the start of the meeting.
Attendees banged pots and pans, chanted statements like “This s*** is a f****** mess,” and wrote messages in chalk targeted toward the legislators, with some reading “Shelter is a human right” and “You suck.” Organizers provided protesters with soup and hosted several speakers, including local activist Daniel Creamer, a volunteer for FNB.
According to Creamer, a member of the ITU recently toured the new Code Blue Shelter at 227 Cherry St. that is set to open on Nov. 24. The member said that the shelter will include 60 cots spaced about a foot apart with no barriers between them, will not allow pets and will limit the amount of possessions people can store while residing in the shelter.
Creamer said the closeness of the cots poses a “health and safety risk” for occupants, such as the spread of infectious diseases. He also expressed anger at the current lack of a Code Blue Shelter and the future possibility of people being turned away due to shelter restrictions.
The shelter will operate daily through April 15 under the Volunteers of America Upstate New York chapter — an organization that delivers housing, education and health services to communities.
The shelter will operate at all times regardless of Code Blue status, which is activated when temperatures are expected to fall below freezing for at least two consecutive hours.
During his speech, Creamer addressed Tompkins County Legislature Chair Dan Klein, who watched the beginning of the protest. Using a megaphone, Creamer directed his comments toward Klein.
“We demand that all people be sheltered and will not be denied for any reason,” Creamer said. “Any person turned away from Code Blue rooms is unacceptable, and any loss in available shelter services is unacceptable.”
Currently, without an open Code Blue Shelter in Ithaca, the Tompkins County Department of Social Services provides those seeking shelter on Code Blue nights with emergency shelter in the form of hotel or motel rooms. Requesters have to call TCDSS or visit its office to receive shelter each day they need it.
After losing their graduate student job while attending Cornell, Mayowa Willoughby spoke at the protest about using TCDSS services, explaining that they were “forced to turn to [TCDSS] for help paying my rent.”
Willoughby said the department agreed to pay part of their rent for their two-year lease, but stopped making payments four months in without informing them.
Through their own research, Willoughby learned they owed $14,000 to their landlord, and in 2025, their landlord issued a two-week demand to pay $25,000.
“[TCDSS] knowingly left me on the hook for a lease they knew I couldn't afford to pay without their help,” Willoughby said. “Yet, somehow we are supposed to trust and believe that this very same Department of Social Services is fit to fashion a response that will urgently, carefully and thoughtfully respond to the needs of individuals who need shelter from freezing conditions.”
In a statement to The Sun, Klein said he is aware of concerns regarding the county’s handling of some calls in request of shelter. He said the county is currently reviewing the issue.
Veronica Pillar ’14 Ph.D. ’19 (D-2nd District) gave a speech before attending the legislature meeting. In their speech, they emphasized the importance of protest in making one’s voice heard to government officials.
“The county's vision is [that] all Tompkins County residents thrive in a supportive, healthy, safe and inclusive environment,” Pillar said. “In theory, that's what the county is working for. Hold us accountable for that ... because it's clear that we are completely failing in a lot of ways.”
Willoughby said TCDSS benefits from “a legacy of saviorist imperialism, which preys on the vulnerable while signaling virtuosity.” According to them, since those seeking social services have to reach out to TCDSS, the department can treat them “however they want.” They said the department’s actions are “unreasonable.”
“[TCDSS’] lack of regard for basic human dignity is not only unconscionable — it's disgusting,” Willoughby said. “And it is a reminder that more than ever, our safety nets have never been safe. As long as our most vulnerable keep falling straight through them, neither are we [safe].”
Shubha Gautam is a member of the Class of 2028 in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a senior writer for the News department and can be reached at sgautam@cornellsun.com.
