For decades, the “Jungle” has been a staple behind Walmart as Ithaca’s largest homeless encampment. Dozens of people live there full-time, while some just stay for a brief visit until they can find their footing again. Though some familiar with the encampment state it has been around since 1926 and has had a steady population since then, the exact date when the encampment formed is unclear. Over the years local authorities have had to respond to assaults and countless health issues in the encampment as there is almost no sanitation available for the residents. This clump of woods has always just existed and no real change has been made at a city level to help the people living there.
Groups in Ithaca have tried in the past to bolster support for the residents, such as placing a dumpster nearby for them to use. However, it was taken away after about a month. Carmen Guidi, who runs an auto body shop in Newfield, took it upon himself to make a change. In 2012, he began to build relationships with the residents and understand what brought them to the woods behind Walmart. After investing in campers that he placed on his land he switched his plan and started building small houses to give these people somewhere to live. As of publication, he has built eighteen cottages to provide accessible housing for as many people as possible. Guidi makes it his goal to support and create opportunities for his residents and strives to provide them with education and connections. This allows them to slowly adjust and become independent.
This housing complex is different from the traditional accessible housing options as they are all single-person cottages. Guidi acknowledged that these separate buildings do cost quite a bit more than the large apartment-style projects, but realizes that by creating independent living spaces, he is supporting and encouraging his residents to become self-sufficient and eventually live in their own spaces outside of the Second Wind Cottages.
Ithaca’s local government has begun initiatives to help support the homeless population over the years, and by doing so has helped revolutionize this kind of support. Because many who are without housing face drug and alcohol abuse, many opportunities for shelter are denied to them unless they become clean. Ithaca did not require this and housing became the first step instead of the last. Along with this the city has proposed multiple plans to set up de facto campsites with trailers that have running water and toilets. The idea behind this would be more of a temporary stop until people could eventually move into their own homes. This new plan, called TIDES, was proposed to the city council and included twenty-five cabins that could serve up to fifty people along with running water and sewage covered by the city. Although this has not been put into action, it has been in the works and a full-time staff would also be present to provide support. New York State does have a system in place for homeless residents during the winter months and this is utilized by many who live in the Jungle. If the weather is below freezing, the state requires attention to homeless residents and offers them a place to stay for free. Tompkins County recorded over one hundred and fifty uses of the program during the winter season, although this still leaves many without homes throughout the rest of the year.