CONNECTING TO ADVANTAGES HELPS YOU FIND BENEFITS

(Article published in HWW February 2010)

Do you know anyone who thinks it’s easy to understand the rules and regulations involved in getting benefits like food stamps, or Medicare?

Judith Rubenstein didn’t think it was easy either when she started researching the problem but she’s found a good solution. Judith was named New Yorker of the Week by NY1 News recently for setting up an organization called Connecting to Advantages to help low income and unemployed New Yorkers access benefits they’re entitled to have but may not know about.

Just one example: Did you know that if you don’t file tax forms because you live on p.a., social security, SSDI, SSI, just food stamps or nothing, you still can get money from the NYC School Tax Credit. And it won’t reduce your benefits or food stamps.

Now Connecting to Advantages has 40 trained volunteers located at eight worksites around NYC ready to help you

• apply for the School Tax Credit

• file your income tax return

• apply for food stamps, WIC, public assistance, and health insurance

• locate sliding scale medical and dental centers – and free cell phones

• find food pantries and soup kitchens

• and maybe more

As Judith told NY1 interviewers “I want families to have more money more easily so they can pay more attention to their children’s school, to their children’s summer camp, so they can pay more attention to registering to vote, deciding who to vote for.”

WHERE TO FIND CONNECTING TO ADVANTAGES

1. Brooklyn Workforce Career Center

9 Bond Street, 4th floor, (Livingston – Fulton Sts.),

NYC 11201, 5th floor, Community Partnership Room

(718) 246-5219, ext 2043; Tuesday, 1 - 3 pm

2. Our Lady of Sorrows

213 Stanton Street, corner of Pitt St. and Stanton St., NYC 10002,

(212) 673-0900; Wednesday, 1:30 - 2:30 pm

3. Metropolitan Community Church

446 West 36th Street (9th – 10th Avenues), NYC 10018,

(212) 629-7440; Thursday, 9 - 10 am

4. Mt. Zion AME Church

1765 Madison Street (116 St.), NYC

(212) 369-6643; Friday 10 - 11am

5. St. Francis Xavier Welcome Table

46 West 16th Street, NYC 10011, (212) 627-2100

Once a month, the 2nd Saturday of each month,

10 am - 12 noon (Dec. 12, Jan. 9, Feb. 13, March 13,

April 10, May 8)

6. Metro Baptist Church

410 West 40 Street (9th-10th Avenues), NYC 10018,

(212) 594-4464

Saturday, 11 am - 12 noon (if there’s a 5th Saturday in month, there’s no pantry & we’re not there)

7. Village Temple

33 East 12 Street (betw. University Ave. and Bdway), (212) 674-2340

Once a month, the 4th Saturday of each month,

2:30 pm - 4 pm (Dec. 26, Jan. 23, Feb 27, March 27,

April 24, May 22)

8. Hunts Point Workforce Career Center

1029 East 163 St., 3rd floor, Bronx, NYC

(718) 542-6777 (#6 to Hunts Point)

Wednesday, 10 am - 12 noon, starting January 6, 2010

9. La Sirena, Mexican Crafts Store

27 East 3rd St. (between 2nd Ave. and Bowery)

(212) 780-9113

7 days a week / 12 noon - 7 pm