Onondaga County Department Of Social Services

This program offers short-term assistance to individuals and families in need as they pursue self-sufficiency. It can help with either a security deposit or the first month's rent, but not both simultaneously. The Family Assistance (FA) program provides financial aid specifically for families with children, with cash benefits capped at five years over a recipient's lifetime. After this period, recipients may still qualify for assistance if an adult in the household is disabled and unable to work, or they may need to seek help through the Safety Net category. Safety Net Assistance (SNA) offers financial support for essential living costs to single adults and couples without children, or families who have exhausted their five-year FA limit. Cash benefits under SNA are restricted to two years within a recipient's lifetime. Beyond this, non-cash benefits are provided through a voucher system. Additionally, Emergency Temporary Assistance is available through Emergency Assistance for Families (EAF) or Emergency Safety Net Assistance (ESNA) to address urgent situations such as evictions, moving costs, utility shutoffs, and diversion payments to prevent the need for ongoing support. Notably, individuals do not need to be enrolled in public assistance to qualify for Emergency Temporary Assistance.

Intake Procedure: Interested individuals can apply by calling or visiting in person.

Fees: There are no fees associated with this assistance.