February 16, 2023

 

 

Dear Community Partner:

                                          

Thank you for your partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need. We hope that this communication, as well as the community-wide conference calls, continues to serve as an important platform to share information and answer your questions. We will continue our work toward the shared goal of fighting poverty, income inequality, and addressing homelessness in our city with care and compassion for our clients, staff, and provider partners.  

 

As a reminder, please reach out to DSS Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov to be added to the list of invitees for the community-wide call and sign up here be added to the distribution list for this weekly communication. The next community call will be held on March 14, 2023 at 4 pm. Invites with the Zoom link will be sent the week prior.

 

We continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic. 

 

As you may have heard, after 36 years of working in many different capacities at DSS-HRA-DHS, I am retiring from city government and have decided to step down as Commissioner of DSS to explore other opportunities in the private sector. But first I will take some time off, decompress and spend some quality time with my family. I want to thank you all for the support you have shown me over this past year. Your commitment to fighting poverty makes an immeasurable impact on New Yorkers. Molly Park, DHS First Deputy Commissioner, will succeed me as Acting Commissioner of DSS until the Mayor appoints a permanent replacement. I know you all will provide Molly the same support and partnership you have generously provided to me. 


This is not goodbye but a farewell as I wish you all the best as you continue to advocate on behalf of New Yorkers in need of services.


 

2022-2023 Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) – Application Available on AHRA

 

As of Monday, February 13, 2023, applications for the Regular HEAP component can be submitted via ACCESSHRA. The 2022-23 HEAP season runs from November 1, 2022- March 15, 2023, or until funding for this component is exhausted.

 

As previously reported, the Emergency HEAP Benefit opened on January 3, 2023. Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households with a heating emergency or a heat-related domestic emergency. Only one Emergency benefit of each type is available per HEAP household for the 2022-2023 season. Regular component benefits, if available, must be utilized first to resolve heating emergencies for eligible households. The application period for the 2022-2023 Emergency HEAP, which consists of heating and heating-related benefits, began January 3, 2023, and is slated to end March 5, 2023, but will continue until funding allocated to this component is exhausted.


All applicants for the Emergency benefit component may apply via telephone and in person.


More information, including 2022-23 benefit amounts and eligibility requirements, can be found here.


Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) Waiver Extension

 

The USDA has granted an extension of the State-wide waiver of the Able-Bodied Adults Without Dependents (ABAWD) work requirements through February 29, 2024. The waiver was previously set to expire on September 30, 2023. 

 

Mandatory In-Person Engagement with FIA & Employment Services and Support Administration: Employment Services Providers

 

HRA will begin mandatory in-person appointments for Cash Assistance recipients who are required to participate in an Employment Services program. Engagement with HRA Employment Services and Support Administration (ESSA) Providers is mandatory for Cash Assistance recipients but was paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. This mandatory engagement resumes in early 2023 and will be in-person, with some limited exceptions.

 

Clients will be contacted twice by HRA or our programs before the mandatory appointment period begins using at least one of four methods of communication: email, telephone call, text message (for some), and/or mail.

 

HRA Employment Services offers Cash Assistance clients opportunities to learn new skills and improve their chances of connecting to careers that will lead to success and financial security. Employment Services works closely with clients to identify opportunities that match their needs, skills, and career goals, with a goal of establishing long-term financial stability and security. Clients work with a Career Pathways provider in one of three programs:


CareerCompass, YouthPathways, and CareerAdvance. More information on each of these programs is included below. These providers will also assist clients who need them with connecting to childcare services.


  • CareerCompass assists clients with finding employment, training, or education programs, as well as internship and community service opportunities, to match their skills and reach their goals.
  • YouthPathways provides career, education, and training services for clients ages 18-24, including internships and community service opportunities tailored to their goals and needs.
  • CareerAdvance offers career, education, and training services in specific employment sectors, including people with limited English proficiency and older adults.

 

WeCARE and Substance Use (SU) providers provide a continuum of services to help cash assistance clients and applicants with medical and/or mental health conditions that affect their employability to attain their maximum levels of self-sufficiency.

 

Office of Substance Use Policy, Planning and Monitoring is responsible for CAS' substance use initiatives, including developing substance use policies and programs, and monitoring and providing technical assistance to the HRA substance use contractors. The Office monitors and provides technical assistance to the following contracted programs: Substance Use Centralized Assessment Program (SUCAP), and four case management services programs.

 

New York State Social Services Law Section 132 requires local social service districts to identify, and refer for treatment, cash assistance clients who have substance use disorders. ACCESS HRA provides a self-attested to screening instrument that is followed up with and confirmed by HRA's Benefit Access Centers (BACs) or simply used by the BAC staff during the interview. The state mandated screening instrument is used to identify cash assistance applicants and recipients who may have a substance use problem. An individual who screens positive receives a comprehensive substance use assessment by one of the contracted vendors employed by Customized Assistance Services (CAS). Based on the results of this assessment, the contractors refer the individual for a range of services or treatment tailored to meet the client's needs.

 

The Office of Reasonable Accommodations (ORA) is responsible for the clinical review of requests for Reasonable Accommodations (when review is required) that support clients with physical, mental, or medical disabilities in accessing HRA programs and services. ORA clinicians review clinical documentation and make recommendations on Reasonable Accommodation requests that support clients in accessing HRA programs and services.

 

COVID-19 Emergency Allotments to SNAP Households Ending After February 2023 

 

SNAP Emergency Allotments (EA) will be issued to all Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipient households that receive benefits for the month ofFebruary 2023.This will be the last distribution of SNAP Emergency Allotments.

 

Under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, SNAP Emergency Allotments are scheduled to end after the February 2023 issuance. The continuation of the SNAP Emergency Allotments is no longer tied to the continuation of the Public Health Emergency. As such, households currently receiving SNAP benefits will see a reduction in the monthly benefits they receive with the end of these emergency allotments. 

 

To inform SNAP households of the upcoming reduction in benefits, the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance will implement a targeted outreach campaign which will include the following:

 

  • The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for Emergency Allotment (EA) SNAP Benefits page on the OTDA website has been updated to reflect important information on the discontinuation of supplemental EA benefits.
  • The FAQ will include links to and/or information on:
  • SNAP Emergency Allotments are Ending Household letter (forthcoming) 
  • SNAP EA Ending flyer
  • SNAP EA Ending social media announcement
  • Text blast content and details
  • A letter titled, SNAP Emergency Allotments are Ending, will be mailed to all SNAP households beginning in February, informing them that February is the last month they are eligible to receive EA and advising those who have experienced a loss of income and/or an increase in expenses which may result in an increase in their normal monthly SNAP benefit amount, to report changes to their local department of social services.
  • This correspondence will be generic and won’t be personalized to a household’s specific case or budget. 
  • The letter will include the Connect EBT hyperlink and phone number (1-888-328-6399) to check card balances.
  • The letter will also include the OTDA hotline number: 1-800-342-3009. Note: the hotline IVRS and operators will not be able to provide more specific information beyond what will be included in the household letter and the EA FAQ webpage. 
  • OTDA will also deploy at least three text blasts during the first three months of 2023 to SNAP households to increase awareness that EA benefit issuances are ending and allow as much time as possible to prepare. The text messages will be sent from 1-877-902-0684. Clients can be informed that these text messages are legitimate and are not spam or a scam. The texts will use the following language:
  • January Message: NY OTDA: SNAP Emergency Allotments (EA) end in February. Learn more: otda.ny.gov/EA-SNAP
  • February Message: NY OTDA: This is the last month for SNAP Emergency Allotments (EA). Learn more: otda.ny.gov/EA-SNAP
  • March message: NY OTDA: SNAP EA benefits have ended. Only regular SNAP will be issued in March: otda.ny.gov/EA-SNAP

 

Additionally, to help ensure clients are appropriately notified of this change to their upcoming monthly SNAP benefit amount HRA/DSS will:

  • Post a statement regarding the change on the agency and ACCESSHRA websites, which will also link to OTDA’s website and flyer.
  • Issue an email notification to SNAP households with email addresses on file.


Time Limited Zip-Code Based CITYFHEPS Landlord Bonus


A zip-code-based CityFHEPS Landlord Bonus will be available for a limited time.

This bonus is only available for new moves and applies to certain zip codes designated

by NYC Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). The NYC Department of Housing and Preservation & Development (HPD) has designated these zip codes in NYC as expanded housing opportunity areas. As rents tend to be higher in these zip codes, CityFHEPS is now offering a landlord bonus of one month’s rent to landlords in these zip codes who accept a CityFHEPS voucher holder at their market rate rent. This bonus will be offered through June 30, 2023. Stabilized rents already at or below the CityFHEPS maximum are not eligible for this bonus


Public Hearing on Universal Access to Legal Services for Tenants Facing Eviction


The Office of Civil Justice will hold its fifth annual public hearing on New York City’s Universal Access to Legal Services program for tenants facing eviction on Friday, February 24, 2023, from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. Due to COVID-19, the public hearing will take place remotely via Zoom.

 

For access online (by video and audio), go to Zoom.us, and enter Meeting ID 852 9830 6596 and Passcode: DSS.


By phone (audio only), call (646) 876-9923. When asked, enter Meeting ID 852 9830 6596.


This information is also available on OCJ’s website.


The Notice of Hearing can be accessed here with more information regarding the hearing, including how you and others can participate. Click here for more information on the Office of Civil Justice and its tenant legal services programs.

 

Local Law 136 of 2017 established the Universal Access to Legal Services program, making the City of New York the first in the United States to commit to making legal services available to all tenants facing eviction in housing court and public housing authority termination of tenancy proceedings. As part of the implementation of this legislation, the Office of Civil Justice is holding this public hearing to provide an opportunity for tenants, attorneys, advocates, and other stakeholders to be heard on Universal Access' progress to date as well as to inform future plans for implementation.


Brooklyn Civil Housing Court Emergency Rental Assistance Pilot Project

 

The Department of Social Services (DSS)/HRA will participate in a pilot program beginning February 21, 2023 to assist tenants at the Brooklyn Civil Housing Court on their first scheduled court dates to apply for emergency rental assistance. To start, a brochure will be distributed at the Brooklyn Housing Court answer window, informing tenants when they are first summoned how to get HRA help before their first court date. At their first court date, those who don’t have legal representation will be directed by court staff to on-site HRA staff for assistance in applying for rent arrears and ongoing assistance via ACCESS HRA. They will also be screened for and connected to legal services. Their next court date will be scheduled at least 45-days out, to allow time for HRA to process the application for those who are eligible. A centralized HRA team will expedite processing so that cases can be resolved in time for the next court date.


2023 Federal Poverty Levels

 

The 2023 Federal Poverty Levels became effective on January 19, 2023. The new poverty level chart can be found here.

 

Below outlines the dates on which HRA administered benefits will employ use of the 2023 FPL:


  • Fair Fares, CityFHEPS, and Medicaid – 1/1/2023
  • Emergency Assistance to Families (EAF)/Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) – 04/01/2023
  • Cash Assistance, Transitional Child Care, and Low Income Child Care (through ACS) – 06/01/2023
  • SNAP – 10/01/2023

 

NYC Free Tax Prep: Tax Season 2023

 

The Department of Social Services/Human Resources Administration (DSS/HRA) is partnering with the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) for the City’s Annual Tax Season Initiative to help working individuals and families learn about and claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)and the Non-Custodial Parent (NCP) EITC in order to reach more eligible New Yorkers. New Yorkers who earned $80,000 or less in 2022 can use NYC Free Tax Prep to file for free with the help of an IRS certified Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA)/Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) volunteer preparer. NYC Free Tax Prep volunteer preparers can help New Yorkers claim valuable tax credits, including a bigger NYC EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit).

 

Help spread awareness so that New Yorkers don’t miss out on valuable tax credits or spend their money on tax prep fees. Below are some tools to help amplify NYC Free Tax Prep:

 

 

Note: Additional translations will be available on the DCWP Tax Campaign page in the coming weeks.

 

Quick Links:

Official NYC Free Tax Prep URL: nyc.gov/taxprep

DCWP Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram handle: @helloDCWP

Hashtags: #FreeTaxPrep #EITC

 

DSS Community Partner Directory Questionnaire

 

In our efforts to maintain current and accurate contact information for all of our community partners, we are asking for your help to update our communications contact list by completing our brief questionnaire.

 

This form is open to all employees and volunteers of community-based organizations, and all are encouraged to complete it. It will only take a few minutes to complete, and all your responses will remain confidential. Click here to get started.



We appreciate your participation!

 

DSS One Number Initiative

 

On January 30, 2023, DSS launched OneNumber, an agencywide initiative which consolidates most of DSS-HRA’s Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system telephone numbers into one telephone number. The DSS OneNumber initiative will modernize and expand the Agency’s call center capabilities, as well as provide clients with the ability to remotely request assistance and receive information about their benefits and services. The DSS OneNumber is a new Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system that will consolidate most of the Agency’s separate IVR systems into one public-facing customer service number. It will also provide clients with self-service and agent-assisted supports for some of the Agency’s largest benefit programs, including SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), Cash Assistance, Medicaid, HASA (HIV/AIDS Services Administration), and HEAP (Home Energy Assistance Program). Stand-alone numbers, including the SNAP On-Demand interview number and the Homebound Customer Service Unit number, will, however, remain in place.

 

Streamlining phone numbers and IVR systems under the DSS OneNumber will make it easier for DSS-HRA clients to get the information they need by accessing one number with a comprehensive menu. Notable features of the DSS OneNumber include:

 

  • Direct Dialog: Allows callers to use their voice to navigate through the menu in certain languages. Touchtone navigation will also be available.
  • Multi-language support: DSS-HRA will be in full compliance with Local Law 30 by offering menu options and responses to self-service inquiries in all required languages. In the first phase, the DSS OneNumber will be in English and Spanish, rolling out in additional languages by phase two. At any point, the caller can speak to a DSS-HRA agent to request interpretative services through Language Line.
  • Call Back Assist: Instead of waiting on hold during periods of high call volume, callers can opt to receive a call back from the Agency when their position in the queue is reached.

 

Calls placed to an existing agency phone number that is part of the OneNumber consolidation will be automatically forwarded to the DSS OneNumber. Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing and use a videophone and/or communicate using American Sign Language (ASL) can still reach DSS-HRA by calling 347-474–4231.

 

A list of the programs and their corresponding phone numbers that are being consolidated under OneNumber can be found on our website here. Some numbers are not being consolidated as part of OneNumber. Those can also be found on our website.

 

City Services for Asylum Seekers Arriving in NYC

 

As of February 15, 2023, over 46,200 asylum seekers have gone through the system and been offered a place to rest at night since last spring. Over 29,300 asylum seekers are currently in the City's care. The City has opened 86 emergency shelters and 6 HERRCs to meet this unprecedented need. In addition, we announced a 7th HERRC will be opening in Queens. This does not reflect the total number of asylum seekers in New York City, it does not include those who are staying with family, friends, and networks here after being connected.

 

Additional information on the City’s efforts to support asylum seekers can be found here.

 

Ride for Half Price – Fair Fares

 

Encourage everyone to ride for half price with Fair Fares by sharing our Social Media Fair Fares toolkit and short video. Share and amplify!

 

Many CA and SNAP household members can ride for half price. Each non-elderly adult should log into Access HRA or creating an account if they are not the head of the case and click “Enroll Now” button.

 

The Fair Fares NYC program offers eligible New Yorkers regardless of immigration status a 50% discount on NYC subway and eligible buses and Access-A-Ride paratransit fares. NYC residency requirement does not include a minimum timeframe.

 

Fair Fares enrollment is simple and can be completed online: Apply for Fair Fares on ACCESS HRA!

 

If you need assistance to apply or have questions please visit the Fair Fares website to find a location near you. Fair Fares enrollment assistance is also available at the NYC Asylum Seeker Resource Navigation Center. 

 

Clients who need a replacement card or a refund can visit an office or mail in their damaged or expired card to: 

 

Fair Fares NYC

P.O. Box 7099

New York, NY 10008-7099

 

Clients who mail their card must include their Fair Fares Client ID number, first and last name, date of birth, in the envelope with the card.

 

All new cards and replacement cards will be mailed to the client.  

 

Fair Fares Updates and Outreach Materials

 

The City has created Fair Fares outreach materials - including palm cards, brochures, and posters that can be ordered by community organizations and others. Please use the Design and Print Ordering System (DPOS) website, after registering on the login page.


Additional Resources and Information

 

Employment Opportunities with the City of NY

 

The Department of Social Services is holding a career fair on February 28, 2023 from 10 am – 4 pm. The Job Fair will be held at:

 

NYC Business Link

123 William Street, 6th floor

New York, NY10038

 

DSS-HRA-DHS are looking fill all open positions which include: Case Worker, Job Opportunity Specialist, and Eligibility Specialist, and more. 

 

Please refer to the flyer for more information, and share widely. 

 

The City Dept. of Administrative Services (DCAS) manages job recruitment for city government, including examinations for Civil Service. Start at this page, or search for jobs here (to search by agency or area of interest) or here (to search by job ID# or agency)

 

Composting Expansion Schedule

 

The City has announced an expansion of the curbside composting program, scheduled to provide curbside composing to all boroughs by October 2024. For more information on the announcement visit: https://www.nyc.gov/office-of-the-mayor/news/084-23/mayor-adams-roadmap-nation-s-largest-compost-collection-program-including-achieving#/0

 

Expansion schedule below:

  • March 27, 2023: Service restarts in Queens following a brief winter pause and becomes year-round. There will be no further seasonal breaks in any borough.
  • October 2, 2023: Service begins in Brooklyn.
  • March 25, 2024: Service begins in Staten Island and the Bronx.
  • October 7, 2024: Service comes to Manhattan, marking the first citywide curbside composting program ever.

 

Drop off composting sites continue to be available here.

 

Temporary Water Bill Amnesty 

 

As New York City recovers from the pandemic, the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is offering this limited one-time amnesty with up to 100% interest forgiveness for all delinquent customers. Those who owe water and wastewater charges may be eligible for this amnesty offer.

 

For more information and to confirm eligibility use the Amnesty Look Up Tool.

 

For questions or concerns, please see FAQ’s.

 

New Digital Resources to Support NYC Outreach

 

PEU is proud to partner with many of you to support New Yorkers and get them the benefits they deserve. We’re grateful for our collaborations to serve New Yorkers. So, we’re excited to announce a new collection of digital resources, toolkits, and flyers available for your use! This content helps connect New Yorkers to housing benefits, tenants' rights, health coverage, and more. 

 

We hope that you can share this with your teams to help us support New York City residents. We have posting text, translations, and graphics in many sizes. Find all resources on our website at nyc.gov/PEURESOURCES.

 

The NYC Public Engagement Unit GetCoveredNYC Event Round-Up

 

GetCoveredNYC has continued to connect New Yorkers to health coverage and health information during the New Year. We’ve partnered with our partners at the Office of Citywide Health Insurance Access and Queens Public Library on a series of Health Insurance 101 Workshops, presented during NYC Health + Hospitals’ Health Care Access digital info sessions, and continued our routine tabling efforts at libraries, community centers, and HRA offices in every borough. Excitingly, we just launched our weekly social media roundup of GetCoveredNYC events, helping people find free health care support in-person. This week’s round up is posted here. Please share widely!

 

Health-Related Updates


COVID Vaccines


The CDC has approved the use of updated Covid booster shots that specifically target the two prominent omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5.

 

To be eligible for the new bivalent booster you must be at least two months out from completing your primary two-dose vaccination series or your last booster and be aged 12+ for the Pfizer shot and 18+ for Moderna. If you have recently had Covid, you must be fully recovered with negative tests to receive another vaccine.

Find a location to receive your booster shot here.

 

COVID-19 Testing


Resources and information about COVID-19 Testing is available at the NYC Test and Treat home page, as well as our COVID-19 Community Updates page.

 

Free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests are available to order online and by phone from the Federal Government. These rapid tests give results within 30 minutes. Lab drop-off is not required.

 

Every home in the United States is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home tests per residential address. Tests were shipped out starting the week of December 19, 2022.

 

The United States Postal Service will deliver tests to anyone who wants them. All orders in the continental United States will be sent through First Class Package Service.

 

If you provide an email address, you will receive email notifications with shipping updates. Once your order is shipped, you will receive an email with an estimated delivery date and a tracking number. You can track the status of your delivery on USPS.com.

 

Online

Learn more and order free at-home COVID-19 rapid tests at covidtests.gov.

 

By Phone

You can get assistance by phone if you are having difficulty accessing the internet or need additional support to place your order.

 

  • Agency: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Division: Test Kit Fulfillment Line
  • Phone Number: (800) 232-0233
  • Business Hours: Daily: 8 AM - Midnight
  • Staff is available during business hours. Most languages are available through a representative.

 

Test-and-Treat

 

The New York City Test & Trace Corps, established during the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, is rebranding as the Test & Treat Corps to reflect the priority to provide New Yorkers with lifesaving COVID-19 treatments.

  

New Yorkers can visit nyc.gov/covidtest to find a city-run testing site most convenient and accessible to them. Multiple COVID-19 treatments are available for people ages 12 and older and can be delivered to New Yorkers’ homes for free. 

 

For more information on COVID-19 treatments, call 212-COVID19 and press 9 or visit nyc.gov/health/covidtreatments. Calling 212-COVID19 provides New Yorkers an immediate connection to a clinician who can refer them to monoclonal antibody treatment or prescribe antiviral medications, like Paxlovid, and arrange to have it delivered to their home that same day.

  

Federal COVID-19 Resource Website

 

The Biden administration has introduced covid.gov, a federal website meant to help Americans who are infected with the virus find the treatment they need quickly and at no cost. On the website, people can find locations to get tests and anti-viral pills, find the locations of vaccination sites and places to acquire high-quality masks; fill out a form to order eight free at-home coronavirus tests per household; view their community’s risk level according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and get general information on Covid symptoms, treatment, testing and travel.

 

The website is available in English, Spanish and Chinese. The administration is also making all these tools available over the phone through the national vaccine hotline at 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489), which supports over 150 languages.

  

AfterCare Program for Long COVID

 

The NYC Test & Treat Corps AfterCare program has launched a hotline for New Yorkers seeking information and resources to recover from Long COVID. New Yorkers who are suffering from or suspect they may have Long COVID can now call AfterCare Navigators directly. AfterCare Navigators are health outreach specialists with experience supporting people during their COVID infection and will assess patients for their specific health and social needs and connect them to Long COVID resources. AfterCare Navigators connect patients to holistic resources – including physical and mental health referrals, community support, and financial assistance – to address the various physical symptoms, as well as the social and economic impacts, that New Yorkers with Long COVID may experience.

 

New Yorkers can call 212-COVID19 (212-268-4319), select their preferred language, and press 4 to speak directly to an AfterCare navigator. Learn more on the AfterCare website and through AfterCare’s Long COVID recovery guide.

 

Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL)

 

The trained staff at the Disability Information and Access Line (DIAL) can provide assistance with:

 

  • Ordering tests.
  • Understanding instructions for test administration and test results.
  • Providing alternative instructions for traditional at-home tests for people who are unable to access, read, or understand the manufacturer’s version.
  • For those who cannot use an at-home test, DIAL operators can:
  • Assist with ordering “swab and send” kits to collect a sample and mail it back for results.
  • Connect callers to local organizations for assistance locating other testing options in their community, including in-home testing programs or transportation or companion support to visit a community-based testing site.

 

Call 888-677-1199 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Eastern) or email DIAL@usaginganddisability.org.

 

Community-wide Conference Call

 

We look forward to your continued participation on our quarterly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information shared here and in our quarterly calls is being communicated to our shared clients.

 

The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what is being shared on our community-wide conference calls as well as new developments and useful information regarding other City benefits and services. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the Community Updates webpage.

 

Thank you for your partnership in serving our fellow New Yorkers in need of our services. If you have any questions or concerns about the issues covered in this communication or on our community-wide conference calls, or if you would like to be added to our distribution or community call invitation list, please reach out to the Office of Community Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.

 

In partnership,

 

Gary P. Jenkins

DSS Commissioner