What is the role of social services departments?
Social Service Department in New York
In every country or state, the role of the government is to provide assistance or help to those who are elderly, sick, or otherwise vulnerable and in need. Not everyone has equal opportunities presented to them, and a lot of the time, people are hindered by their current situation. Did you know that around 69.1 million Americans benefit from the Social Service Department programs? In New York, about 50% of adults have experienced poverty at some point in their lives. New York is certainly one of the states whose constituents need assistance. Fortunately, New York's social service department offers many programs to help those in need.
New York's department of social service agency is called the Department of Social Services, also known as the DSS. It is composed of administrative units of the NYC Human Resources Administration, the HRA, and the Department of Homeless Services or also called the DHS. The Department of Social Services aims to positively impact the health and well-being of New Yorkers' individuals, families, and communities.Main Social Services Programs Offered by the State
SNAP Benefits and Food Program
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program also known as SNAP gives food assistance to low-income people in New York. Included in the beneficiaries of this project are families, senior citizens, and individuals with disabilities. The program works by supplementing the cost of the beneficiaries' diet. The assistance covers nutritional food as well as seeds and plants which produce food.
Homebase
For homelessness prevention, there is a program called Homebase. Homebase helps by providing services to those who do not have a stable shelter or who have just moved to permanent housing. The services offered by this program help to prevent eviction, assist with emergency rental assistance, offer financial counseling and money management, relocation help, and more. This program also offers job placement and educational assistance.Rental Assistance
Rental assistance assists New Yorkers experiencing homelessness in finding stable housing. The program provides monthly rent supplements to its beneficiaries and has helped more than 150,000 people find secure housing. It has helped by connecting beneficiaries to additional rental assistance programs like CityFHEPS, and other programs that the State and Federal governments offer. In an emergency, the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) can provide immediate relief for low and moderate-income households that need temporary help. People who would like to apply can do so 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Home Energy Assistance Program
The HEAP program helps low-income people pay the cost of heating or cooling their homes. HEAP can help with lots of different heating sources, including electricity, natural gas, oil, coal, and propane. The program also offers equipment repair and replacement. Interested parties should contact their local district to find out how to apply.
To find out more about the Department of Social Services, you can click on their website. To contact them, you can reach them by phone. Dial +1 212-331-6000. They are open every Monday to Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM.