Last resident leaves Camp LaGuardia

Last resident leaves Camp LaGuardia

Goshen -- Orange County Executive Edward Diana today received confirmation from New York City Department of Homeless Services Commissioner Hess that the last resident had left the Camp LaGuardia Homeless Shelter.

“Today is a historic day for the people of Orange County and especially the residents of Blooming Grove and Chester,” Diana said. “Today, after 72 years of hosting a New York City Homeless shelter we are now free of the burdens associated with this facility and we look forward to a bright future that will benefit the residents of Orange County.”

The Camp LaGuardia facility originally opened in 1918 as a women’s correctional facility called “the Greycourt Farm Colony.” It was turned over to the City of New York Department of Welfare in 1935 for the purpose of providing shelter to single homeless men. The camp had long been a source of contention for area residents in the Chester and Blooming Grove areas.

The county assumed title to the property earlier this year and as part of the agreement the City of New York had agreed to completely vacate the premises by July 1st.

The Big Apple several hundred remaining residents of the facility back to New York over the last few months.

The county will review potential uses for the property, which could include development of office space, establishment of a central county senior meal program kitchen, a storage area for new voting machines and others yet-to-be decided upon.