MOVING ON
(Article published in HWW Jan-Feb 2007)
Moving your family to a new neighborhood can be exciting and confusing. You’ll have lots of questions. You’ll need to make new connections.
There’s no need to go it alone. Throughout New York City, you can find great sources of information and resources all set up and waiting to help you. Here are some suggestions.
CHECK OUT THE BOROUGH PRESIDENTS’ OFFICES!
In each of the five boroughs of NYC, the Office of the Borough President has special staff assigned to "constituent services" to handle inquiries and complaints from residents like you.
Office of the Bronx Borough President Adolfo Carrion Jr. – the Ombudsman’s Unit promises to help borough residents address needs such as "housing, immigration referrals, sanitation, and neighborhood safety complaints, among other quality of life issues." You can phone to discuss your problem or to make an appointment to file a complaint in person Monday through Thursday, 9 to 5.
851 Grand Concourse, Bronx, NY 10451
(718) 590-3500
Office of Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz – the "Community Service Center" is where Brooklyn residents can request help, file a complaint or ask a question by writing, calling or visiting the office Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.
209 Joralemon Street, Brooklyn, 11201
(718) 802-3777
Office of Manhattan Borough President Scott M. Stringer promises that he and his Constituent Services staff are "committed to doing everything we can to help you navigate the often complicated network of services and civic agencies within our government. If you are facing a problem that you have been unable to resolve, my staff and I would like to help." You can phone or call for an appointment to visit the Borough President’s downtown or uptown office Monday through Friday 9 to 5.
Downtown: Municipal Building, One Centre Street,
19th Floor, NY, NY 10007
(212) 669-8300
Uptown: Harlem State Office Building,
163 West 125th Street, 5th Floor, NY, NY 10027
(212) 531-3030
Office of Queens Borough President Helen M. Marshall – "Constituent Services" handles your questions, problems and complaints. Their promise: "Have a question? No problem. We can help you find the answer." Walk in or call the office Monday through Friday 9 to 5.
120-55 Queens Blvd., Kew Gardens, NY, 11424
(718) 286-2650
Office of Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro. Call your questions in to the HelpLine or visit the office Monday through Friday, 9 to 5.
10 Richmond Terrace, S.I. 10301
(718) 816-2000
SETTLEMENT HOUSES – SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE
An old New York institution, settlement houses have given generations of city families and singles a place to go and learn and enjoy. Located all over the city, settlement houses – sometimes also called community or neighborhood centers – offer a variety of programs. Each settlement house is different. But their programs may include:
– early childhood education,
– after-school youth programs,
– computer labs,
– college counseling,
– job training,
– ESL and literacy,
– mental health and home care,
– housing assistance, senior centers and much more.
United Neighborhood Houses has 35 member
agencies. So to find a settlement house in your new neighborhood call United Neighborhood Houses,
at (212) 967-0322 x0
ARE YOU SURE YOU ARE RECEIVING ALL THE BENEFITS TO WHICH YOU ARE ENTITLED?
Here’s one way to find out:
The Client Counseling Services of the Community Service Society invites you to call for an appointment with a team of trained benefit counselors. They can answer your questions, help you apply, and advocate for you about benefits including Food Stamps, Medicaid, Medicare, Public Assistance, SSI, and more.
To talk to a benefit counselor or arrange an appointment at CSS, 105 E. 22nd Street in Manhattan, call (212) 614-5552.
Here’s another way to find out – ONLINE. If you aren’t computer savvy or don’t have access to the Internet, go to your local library and ask for help to find:
Access NYC, a new, free online service that allows you to see if you are eligible for over 20 city, state and federal human service benefit programs including Medicaid, Food Stamps, child care and tax and rent exemptions. You can either use the service anonymously or you can create an account. It’s available in lots of languages besides English. Click on www.NYC.gov.
The U.S. Department of Labor’s website to connect citizens with more than 1,000 federal and state benefit and assistance programs. It’s available to you 24/7 at www.GovBenefits.gov.
