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Topics / Social Services
Social Services Newsletter
Sign up for our monthly Social Services newsletter:
The Topic
Social Services are all the ways the City, State and community-based groups provide support and assistance to those citizens who lack the means to obtain basic necessities - food, shelter, employment, medical care. This includes the poor, elderly, disabled, abused, homeless and mentally ill.
The Context
Rendering services to NYC citizens is a mammoth undertaking -- requiring time, money and considerable human resources. Huge caseload numbers and understaffed agencies leave the City overburdened and underprepared. Add the occasional scandal or tragedy to the mix, and the ensuing politics bring additional stress to the system. The result? The City is struggling to provide the most basic level of service, even to its neediest clients. And the debate about the best way to remedy these problems continues, perhaps indefinitely...
Links in the News ...
- Jobless Fund Running Dry, but Benefits Will Continue (NY Times)
- Concessions Made in Plan for Homeless in Brooklyn (NY Times)
- Young Adults Turned Away At Shelters (NY Post)
- Bloomberg Behind on Homeless Fix (Daily News)
- Mayor’s Effort to Reduce Homelessness Is Off Pace (NY Times)
- IBO: City Has Failed to Reduce Homelessness (Associated Press)
Researching ...
Shelter Denied Too Often
A new report from Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum contends the city's Department of Homeless Services may make frequent errors when denying families overnight shelter. The report, which profiles several families that were denied shelter by the city, says of the 278 families that were denied shelter between October 2007 and February 2008, 61 percent were later found eligible. The report recommends the city discontinue the denial of shelter to families who apply again for overnight stay after 5 p.m. (August 6, 2008)
Senior Centers in Disrepair
New York City Department for the Aging does not properly monitor the physical condition of its senior citizens centers, according to an audit from the Comptroller's office. The audit of 20 senior centers across the city found fire and safety problems, deteriorating and broken bathroom facilities, and unsanitary kitchens that contributed to hazardous conditions. (July 20, 2008)
Out of School, Out of Work
Approximately 163,000 New Yorkers ages 16 to 24 are out of school and are not in the labor force, according to a recent report by the Community Service Society. Another 47,000 are looking for work but unable to find it. However, the report, "Out of Focus," found that the city has only 12,000 slots to provide education or employment for these so-called "disconnected youth." (July 14, 2008)
Disability Assistance Program Audit
The Human Resources Administration has not created a formal process for monitoring and evaluating the data submitted by contractors running the Wellness, Comprehensive Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Employment program - which offers services and support to people with disabilities - according to an audit by the city comptroller's office. The city has budgeted $200 million over three years for the program, which is called WeCARE for short, and two-thirds of that is awarded to contractors once they complete certain milestones. The agency agreed to create an evaluation and monitoring process in response to the audit. (July 11, 2008)
NYC Hunger Experience 2008
The number of New York City residents who experienced difficulty affording needed food for themselves and their families has increased from 2 million in 2003 (25 percent of the New York City population) to 3.1 million in 2007 (38 percent of the New York City population) — a 55 percent increase, according to a report from the Food Bank for New York. (June 17, 2008)
A new report from Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum contends the city's Department of Homeless Services may make frequent errors when denying families overnight shelter. The report, which profiles several families that were denied shelter by the city, says of the 278 families that were denied shelter between October 2007 and February 2008, 61 percent were later found eligible. The report recommends the city discontinue the denial of shelter to families who apply again for overnight stay after 5 p.m. (August 6, 2008)
Senior Centers in Disrepair
New York City Department for the Aging does not properly monitor the physical condition of its senior citizens centers, according to an audit from the Comptroller's office. The audit of 20 senior centers across the city found fire and safety problems, deteriorating and broken bathroom facilities, and unsanitary kitchens that contributed to hazardous conditions. (July 20, 2008)
Out of School, Out of Work
Approximately 163,000 New Yorkers ages 16 to 24 are out of school and are not in the labor force, according to a recent report by the Community Service Society. Another 47,000 are looking for work but unable to find it. However, the report, "Out of Focus," found that the city has only 12,000 slots to provide education or employment for these so-called "disconnected youth." (July 14, 2008)
Disability Assistance Program Audit
The Human Resources Administration has not created a formal process for monitoring and evaluating the data submitted by contractors running the Wellness, Comprehensive Assessment, Rehabilitation, and Employment program - which offers services and support to people with disabilities - according to an audit by the city comptroller's office. The city has budgeted $200 million over three years for the program, which is called WeCARE for short, and two-thirds of that is awarded to contractors once they complete certain milestones. The agency agreed to create an evaluation and monitoring process in response to the audit. (July 11, 2008)
NYC Hunger Experience 2008
The number of New York City residents who experienced difficulty affording needed food for themselves and their families has increased from 2 million in 2003 (25 percent of the New York City population) to 3.1 million in 2007 (38 percent of the New York City population) — a 55 percent increase, according to a report from the Food Bank for New York. (June 17, 2008)
Harlem Independent Living Center (upper Manhattan)
Staten Island Center for Independent Living
The New York City Department For The Aging
This site is a good resource for finding senior centers in your neighborhood. They also tell you where to turn for help with legal assistance, the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Elderly Crime Victim Resources program. Bilingual help in Spanish is available.
Access New York
ACCESS NYC is a free service run by City Hall that helps individual New Yorkers find whether they qualify for some 20 benefit programs offered by government agencies on the federal, state or city level.
New York City Department of the Aging
The city's Department for the Aging makes it easy to find local senior centers, check on the status of Senior Citizen Rent Increase Applications, and learn about other services available to the city's elderly. Some content is available in Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
Staten Island Center for Independent Living
The New York City Department For The Aging
This site is a good resource for finding senior centers in your neighborhood. They also tell you where to turn for help with legal assistance, the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Elderly Crime Victim Resources program. Bilingual help in Spanish is available.
Access New York
ACCESS NYC is a free service run by City Hall that helps individual New Yorkers find whether they qualify for some 20 benefit programs offered by government agencies on the federal, state or city level.
New York City Department of the Aging
The city's Department for the Aging makes it easy to find local senior centers, check on the status of Senior Citizen Rent Increase Applications, and learn about other services available to the city's elderly. Some content is available in Chinese, Russian and Spanish.
Coalition for the Homeless
Provides vital services to over 3,500 New Yorkers each day. Their Advocacy Department works toward long-term solutions to the problem of homelessness through public education, litigation, organizing, and policy research. By court order, Coalition for the Homeless is the independent monitor of municipal shelters, using trained volunteers to inspect shelters and report on conditions. They publish a Resource Guide listing food, shelter, and other resources for the homeless. Their own services include (among others) housing, a mobile soup kitchen, free voice-mail accounts to help in job-hunting, crisis intervention; and rental assistance.
Friends and Relatives of the Institutionally Aged
Friends and Relatives of the Institutionally Aged is a consumer advocacy group focused on improving nursing homes for New Yorkers. The most useful thing its website offers are its guides to finding a nursing home for a relative or friend, and what to do once they've been placed in one. Publications and fact sheets from the organization can also be either read or purchased online.
Group Day Care Directory
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Bureau of Day Care provides this directory of daycare service providers in all 5 boroughs. Also provides records from site visits and compliance checks.
NYC Caregiver
This new website, recently launched by the Mayor's Office and the city's Department of Aging, is designed to provide resources to people who are taking care of elderly friends or relatives. Visitors can type in their zip code and get a list of the facilities providing services in their area. There's also information about how to pay for health care, the best way to deal with regular problems confronting caregivers, and a special grandparenting section, for senior citizens taking care of children. The Spanish, Russian and Chinese language sections do not yet offer much.
Provides vital services to over 3,500 New Yorkers each day. Their Advocacy Department works toward long-term solutions to the problem of homelessness through public education, litigation, organizing, and policy research. By court order, Coalition for the Homeless is the independent monitor of municipal shelters, using trained volunteers to inspect shelters and report on conditions. They publish a Resource Guide listing food, shelter, and other resources for the homeless. Their own services include (among others) housing, a mobile soup kitchen, free voice-mail accounts to help in job-hunting, crisis intervention; and rental assistance.
Friends and Relatives of the Institutionally Aged
Friends and Relatives of the Institutionally Aged is a consumer advocacy group focused on improving nursing homes for New Yorkers. The most useful thing its website offers are its guides to finding a nursing home for a relative or friend, and what to do once they've been placed in one. Publications and fact sheets from the organization can also be either read or purchased online.
Group Day Care Directory
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene's Bureau of Day Care provides this directory of daycare service providers in all 5 boroughs. Also provides records from site visits and compliance checks.
NYC Caregiver
This new website, recently launched by the Mayor's Office and the city's Department of Aging, is designed to provide resources to people who are taking care of elderly friends or relatives. Visitors can type in their zip code and get a list of the facilities providing services in their area. There's also information about how to pay for health care, the best way to deal with regular problems confronting caregivers, and a special grandparenting section, for senior citizens taking care of children. The Spanish, Russian and Chinese language sections do not yet offer much.
Down And Out In New York City: Homelessness: A Dishonorable Poverty
by Tony D. Guzewicz
Hands To Work: The Stories Of Three Families Racing The Welfare Clock
by LynNell Hancock, William Morrow
How The Other Half Lives: Studies Among The Tenements Of New York
by Jacob A. Riis
No Shame In My Game: The Working Poor In The Inner City
by Katherine S. Newman
The Mole People : Life In The Tunnels Beneath New York City
by Jennifer Toth
by Tony D. Guzewicz
Hands To Work: The Stories Of Three Families Racing The Welfare Clock
by LynNell Hancock, William Morrow
How The Other Half Lives: Studies Among The Tenements Of New York
by Jacob A. Riis
No Shame In My Game: The Working Poor In The Inner City
by Katherine S. Newman
The Mole People : Life In The Tunnels Beneath New York City
by Jennifer Toth
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