ELMIRA, N.Y. (WENY)-- Homelessness is a growing problem in the City of Elmira. Many homeless people were living under the Clemens Center Bridge and one shelter had to shut down due to safety concerns.

The City of Elmira recently cleaned up the homeless encampment under the Clemens Center Bridge, however many people who were living there returned a short time later.

Officials offered help to the people living there but say the overwhelming majority of homeless people refused help. With winter around the corner, the city and its homeless are in a tough spot.

Elmira removed the encampment after putting the people who lived there on notice.  However, they are back! Joseph Calkans is one of them.  He has a blue tent under the bridge facing north towards the water. It is where he and his girlfriend and dog live 

"On the street, we feel as if we got more freedom, we ain't being judged. I felt belittled they think they are better than us when this can happen to anybody at any time, all it takes is that one second and there you go you're homeless,"  Calkans said.

Elmira City Mayor Dan Mandell says trying to get the homeless help has become a difficult situation. It's something many cities are experiencing he explains.

"Basically what we have here is a lot of people with mental health issues, a lot of people have substance abuse issues. The county the city reach out trying to get them help through Catholic Charities they refuse the help," Mandell said.

Another problem that plays a major factor is mental illness. Mandell says the reason many refuse the help is because they can't continue the alcohol and substance abuse behavior in the shelter.

"We do the best that we can within the guidelines of mental health laws, mental hygiene law and it makes it real tough on us as a city to deal with people like this," Mandell said.

Catholic Charities for Chemung and Schuyler Counties has been servicing the homeless population for many years. Their shelter on College Avenue offers a new dorm-style shelter to help individuals get back on their feet.

The number of people they have housed has increased dramatically by 75%.  Now they are opening a new facility to help address the root problems of homelessness.

"We decided to go ahead and pursue the dorm=style shelter. But this time we also wanted to have a place where we can provide case management. and address the root problems of homelessness," Nancy Koones, Executive said.

Two of the main root problems they are experiencing are mental health issues and substance abuse. The new campus will address those two issues.

"We will also have a dorm-style shelter that will also have that warming station that we can also utilize as a day room for people that don't want to shelter with us, where they can come, take a shower, wash their clothes, start feeling self-dignity perhaps get into case management then on a pathway out of poverty," Koons Executive Director of Catholic Charities for Chemung and Schuyler Counties, Koons said.

The new shelter will be located at St. Peter and Paul property at 556 St. Josephs Blvd. This new shelter will house up to 75 people.

The gym will be utilized right now as the warming station and in about 90 days once they become certified as a dorm-style shelter they'll see how many people want to forego the motel rooms they are currently in and move into the dorm housing. 

"This will be a one-stop shop and a greater chance for success," Koons said. 

For safety reasons, the shelter will have security guards and metal detectors.