Ontario County’s first homeless shelter designed specifically for families has officially opened in Canandaigua as local agencies report a sharp rise in homelessness across the county.
According to reporting by the Finger Lakes Times, Family Promise of Ontario County and the Molly and Ed Shill Cares Foundation opened the new Shill Family Center Friday at 495 North Main Street inside a restored 1830s-era cobblestone home.
As many as 25 families and 120 individuals seek shelter each night in Ontario County, a 300% increase since 2020, according to county officials. During the 2023-24 school year, 408 school-aged children in the county experienced homelessness, while eviction filings increased 35% between 2019 and 2023.
The new shelter can house up to seven families, or approximately 30 people, at one time. In addition to temporary housing, the facility will provide case management, employment assistance, financial guidance and other support services aimed at helping families secure permanent housing and regain stability.
The property also includes a new playground for children staying at the shelter.
The Molly and Ed Shill Cares Foundation purchased the long-vacant property in 2023 for $280,000. Renovation work began in early 2025 after local approvals and fundraising efforts moved the project forward.
Ontario County Department of Social Services officials say the county previously relied heavily on motel placements for emergency housing, but leaders involved in the project said the new center is intended to provide a more stable and supportive environment for families facing homelessness.
Family Promise of Ontario County previously operated several scattered-site apartments in Geneva, Canandaigua and Bloomfield for families in need, though the number of available units was reduced last year because of funding and housing challenges.
