42-unit supportive housing facility set to open in Ogdensburg
STEP by STEP is preparing to open a 42-unit supportive housing facility for people experiencing homelessness at 1515 Knox Street in Ogdensburg before Thanksgiving 2026.
By Jessica Hale, ClickNNY North Country Desk
A 42-unit supportive housing facility for people experiencing homelessness is expected to open before Thanksgiving at 1515 Knox Street in Ogdensburg. The project is being developed by STEP by STEP to expand housing and support services in the community.
The facility will include mostly studio apartments. Residents will pay 30 percent of their income toward rent. People without income may receive temporary assistance through the Department of Social Services while pursuing longer-term income, STEP Executive Director David Bayne said.
STEP by STEP said the building is intended for residents who may have a mental health diagnosis, have experienced chronic homelessness or have a substance-use problem. Security features include key fobs limited to residents’ building wings and cameras monitoring indoor and outdoor areas.
The project cost about $10.6 million, including $9.7 million from the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program. The facility may cost about $1 million annually to operate, Bayne said. State funding also required an electric-vehicle charging station.
The new building is across from STEP by STEP’s existing facility, a former elementary school. The organization opened in 1997 as a one-room drop-in center for people with mental health needs. It acquired the former Lincoln School in 2018, and the site includes STEP services and a warming center. In 2022, the organization completed Lincoln School Apartments, which has 20 supportive-housing units.
STEP by STEP bought the Knox Street site in 2014. The state announced the $9.7 million award in 2024, and construction began July 10, 2025. The organization has said the need for its services has grown beyond the capacity of its existing space.
The facility is part of a broader housing challenge in Northern New York. A September 2024 housing summit reported a 26% increase from 2023 to 2024 in the number of Jefferson County residents receiving emergency housing through the Department of Social Services. Ogdensburg also received $10 million in state Downtown Revitalization Initiative funding in March 2026, including money for new housing, though that funding is separate from the STEP by STEP project.
An exact move-in date and the first residents have not been announced. People seeking information can contact STEP by STEP at 315-394-0597 or visit stepbystepinc.org. The organization’s listed address is 1515 Knox Street in Ogdensburg, and 211 CNY lists administrative hours as Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reported by ClickNNY and reviewed by an editor before publication.
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