Oneida County Department Of Family And Community Services

This program provides temporary assistance to individuals and families striving for self-sufficiency, offering help with either a security deposit or the first month's rent, but not both. Family Assistance (FA) offers financial support to families with children, with cash benefits capped at five years over a recipient's lifetime. After this period, those who are disabled and unable to work may still qualify for benefits or may need to seek assistance through the Safety Net category. Safety Net Assistance (SNA) is available for single adults and childless couples (or families who have exhausted their five-year FA limit) and offers cash benefits for up to two years in a recipient's lifetime. Following this, assistance is provided through a non-cash Safety Net Assistance voucher system. Emergency Temporary Assistance, available through Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA), supports individuals facing crises such as evictions, moving costs, utility shutoffs, and diversion payments to prevent the need for ongoing assistance. Notably, individuals do not need to be receiving public assistance to qualify for Emergency Temporary Assistance.

Intake Procedure: You 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.