Western New York Has New Code Blue Shelter Available

The arrival of the holidays in Western New York often serves as a joyous time for people all over the Buffalo area. However, for some people who call the 716 home, the holidays represent the start of a tough few months. Not necessarily because of the holidays themselves, but due to the change in the weather that hits the Buffalo area every year around this time.

For the more than 6,000 people who are estimated to be homeless in Western New York, the arrival of the cold weather marks a dangerous time for many of them. Spending any amount of time outside in the cold and snow without proper clothing can be dangerous, and many of the unhoused in the Buffalo area find themselves literally living on the streets for most of the year.

To help make sure that people are able to remain safe, a partnership between local governments and non-profits operates the Code Blue Collaborative.

Western New York Has New Code Blue Shelter Available

The Code Blue Collaborative is the cold-weather emergency safety plan for Buffalo and Western New York that makes sure homeless people in the region have a warm place to stay when the temperature dips below freezing in the region.

In a press conference on Friday, November 14, 2025, Commissioner of the Erie County Department of Social Services Karen Rybicki announced that the Buffalo City Mission, located at 100 E. Tupper Street in downtown Buffalo has been named the lead agency to ensure the most vulnerable people in the Buffalo area are not left out in the cold.

There have already been a few Code Blues issued so far this year, and we're only halfway through November. Western New York continues to have a persistent problem with homelessness throughout the region, and the area's rising rents have made it especially difficult for people to find safe and sustainable housing. There are more people living on the street than in past years.

You can find more information about the Code Blue system and donate to help those in need here on the WNY Coalition for the Homeless website.

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