ERIE COUNTY CONTINUES SENDING VULNERABLE FAMILIES TO HOTELS LISTED BY REGISTERED SEX OFFENDERS AS THEIR HOME ADDRESS

The Department of Social Services was warned many years ago about sending vulnerable mothers and their children to temporarily stay in hotels that registered sex offenders list as their home

(HAMBURG) – Erie County Comptroller Stefan I. Mychajliw Jr. is alerting Erie County Social Services for the second time in almost three years that they are continuing to place families in need of emergency housing at a hotel listed by a registered sex offender as his home address.  In 2019, the Office of Erie County Comptroller warned the Social Services Department about this dangerous and risky practice and asked them to stop. 

Almost three years later, a review of hotel payments by Social Services and a check of the New York State sex offender database shows vulnerable women and children are being housed, at Erie County taxpayer expense, at a Hamburg hotel listed by a registered sex offender as his permanent residence.

The Level 2 sex offender, according to the publicly accessible New York State Sex Offender registry, was convicted of a felony sex offense against two female children, ages 10 and 12, in 2003.  He lists his address as a Hamburg motel that is being used by Erie County Social Services for emergency housing for families, even though almost three years ago the Office of Erie County Comptroller demanded Erie County stop this practice that could place mothers and children at risk.

“The Department of Social Services must answer this question: why are they still sending victims of domestic violence and their children to the same hotel that a registered sex offender lists as his permanent home?  These vulnerable women and their children often escape horrible domestic violence situations. Why is Erie County sending them to a hotel publicly listed by a registered sex offender as his residence?  This sex offender was convicted of horrible crimes against children.”  

“These vulnerable and often desperate families have nowhere to turn.  Social Services is supposed to protect them. I warned this department nearly three years ago about this dangerous practice. Why are they still doing this?  Social Services is supposed to protect families, not place them temporarily at hotels where registered sex offenders publicly state they live,” said Comptroller Mychajliw. 

Just like he did almost three years ago, Comptroller Mychajliw is asking the Department of Social Services once again to investigate and determine if the Level 2 Sex Offender still resides at that Hamburg motel.  As of October 13^th, 2021, the Hamburg hotel is still listed as his permanent residence.  Records from the Social Services Department confirm they are still placing vulnerable families at the same location.

“Social Services must investigate this immediately.  I asked them to almost three years ago and was ignored.  The Office of Erie County Comptroller is also contacting the New York State Sex Offender registry about the public listing of this individual’s address.  Either way, Social Services should never, ever send vulnerable families to hotels listed by a sex offender as his home address,” concluded Comptroller Mychajliw.

For pdf of release, click HERE

For pdf of letter click HERE