History

It all started in the...

80’s, when The Emergency Aid Coalition was contacted to help with the homeless in our community. At that time, the old YMCA was housing men.

In 1990, a group of people formed the Homelessness Task Force, with the vision to have a place for homeless families to find support, solace and help getting their lives together. The leader of this group was Fr. James Snodgrass, minister of St. Stephen’s Church.

In 1993, a house was purchased next door to St. Stephen’s. An interfaith group of representatives from different congregations, including Marion Scott, helped The Genesis House start the adopt a room campaign. Many area businesses and congregations used bricks and sweat to prepare the house.

Dan Carr was hired as the first Executive Director in 1994, Genesis House was granted 501-C3 status, and the first family came in January of 1995.

In February 1995, the house was dedicated. At that time the Founding Congregations were Bethany Lutheran Church, Christ United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church, Franciscan Sisters of Allegany, St. Mary of the Angels Roman Catholic Church, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church and Temple B’Nai Israel. The following congregations have since been added : The Islamic Society of the Southern Tier, Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. John’s Lutheran Church, and St. Bonaventure Parish.

In 2009, we opened the men’s shelter, which could house three men and a manager. 

In 2023, New York State required Genesis House to change the way we served our community members and become certified. Families are now served in individual apartments. Adults are served at the main location at S. Barry St. Both shelters are now state certified.

For the winter of 2023-2024, Genesis House served as a Code Blue Warming Center on nights it was expected to be below 32 degrees.