Oneida County Department Of Family And Community Services

This program offers temporary assistance to individuals and families in need as they strive for self-sufficiency. It can provide support for either a security deposit or the first month's rent, but not both simultaneously. Family Assistance (FA) is available for families with children, with cash benefits capped at five years in total for each recipient. After this five-year period, recipients may still receive assistance if an adult in the household is disabled and unable to work, or they may need to apply for Safety Net Assistance (SNA). SNA offers financial support for basic living costs to single adults and childless couples, or families that have exhausted their five-year FA limit, with a two-year cap on cash benefits. After two years, assistance continues through a non-cash voucher system. Emergency Temporary Assistance is also available through Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) for urgent situations like evictions, moving costs, utility shutoffs, and diversion payments to help prevent the need for ongoing support. Individuals do not need to be receiving public assistance to qualify for Emergency Temporary Assistance.

Intake Procedure: Interested individuals can apply by calling or visiting in person, or by submitting an application at mybenefits.ny.gov.

Fees: There are no fees associated with this program.