HAVE YOU HEARD ABOUT SINGLE STOP?

(Article published in HWW Oct 2008)

Single Stop – described by fans as “one of the most effective poverty-fighting means at our disposal”-- is a program to provide free support services to low-income families. Funded by the Robin Hood Foundation in NYC, Single Stop operates at 40 sites in the city’s poorest neighborhoods.

Single Stop provides in one location some or all of six kinds of free, one-on-one counseling:

• Benefits. Specialists using the web-based Self-Sufficiency Calculator determine eligibility and provide assistance with applications for government-subsidized benefits.

• Financial. Trained counselors offer expertise in managing debt and setting up a budget.

• Tax. Trained volunteers prepare tax returns – at no charge – and help clients secure the Earned Income Tax Credit.

• Legal. On-site lawyers from the Legal Aid Society, Legal Services of New York, the Urban Justice Center and the New York Legal Assistance Group provide assistance in dealing with eviction notices, immigration issues, custody disputes, errors in criminal records and more.

• Family. Social workers give confidential help on issues including domestic violence, problems at school and substance abuse.

• Jobs. After an on-the-spot assessment, job seekers are referred to open positions or training.

Each Single Stop site is customized to meet the needs of the neighborhood it serves. In immigrant communities, bilingual counselors are on hand. You can get further information at (212) 480-2870 or at www.singlestopusa.org.

Below is a list of Single Stop locations. Each location makes its own schedule so you should call ahead to find out when you can find the services you need.

MANHATTAN

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS

CUCS at Cloth at Community League of the Heights

500 West 159th Street

(212) 740-2171

Northern Manhattan Improvement Corp

76 Wadsworth Ave.

(212) 453-5362

HARLEM

CUCS at St. Mary’s Church

521 West 126th St., basement

(212) 749-8900

CUCS East Harlem

198 E. 121st St.

(212) 927-0962

Goddard Riverside

140 West 140th Street

(212) 694-7240

Harlem Children’s Zone at Countee Cullen Community Center

271 West 144th St.

(212) 234-4500

Seedco’s Upper Manhattan One Stop Career Center

215 W. 125th Street

(917) 493-7013

MORNINGSIDE HEIGHTS

Harlem Children’s Zone at Employment and Technology Center

304 W. 117 Street

(212) 369-5912

UPPER WEST SIDE

Harlem Children’s Zone at Booker T. Washington Beacon Program/JHS 54

2059 Frederick Douglas Blvd.

(212) 866-1350

UJC at West Side Campaign Against Hunger

Church of St. Paul and St. Andrew

263 West 86th Street

(212) 362-3662

LOWER EAST SIDE

NYLAG Bellevue Hospital

Ambulatory Care Pavillion

Area B, Floor 1

462 First Avenue

(212) 562-4166

UJC at Trinity Lower East Side Lutheran Parish

602 East 9th Street

(646) 602-5600

Grand Street Settlement

80 Pitt Street

(646) 201-4289

Henry Street Settlement

281 East Broadway

(212) 471-2400

FINANCIAL DISTRICT

Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty

80 Maiden Lane

(212) 453-9621

The Women’s Center

11 Broadway

(212) 964-8934

BRONX

MORISSANIA

Citizens Advice Bureau Community Center

1130 Grand Concourse

(718) 508-3055

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS

Good Shepherd Services

2190 University Avenue

(718) 365-1400

NORTH BRONX

UJC at Part of the Solution

2763 Webster Avenue

(718) 220-4892

YANKEE STADIUM

NYLAG at Lincoln Hospital

234 East 149th Street

(718) 579-5657

Bronx Defenders

860 Courtland Avenue

(718) 838-7878

TREMONT

Citizens Advice Bureau

2070 Grand Concourse

(718) 508-3055

HIGHBRIDGE

Whedco

50 East 168th Street

(718) 839-1133

BROOKLYN

BEDFORD STUYVESANT

Bedford Stuyvesant Restoration Plaza

1368 Fulton St.

(718) 636-6916

S.C.O AT M.S. 35 Family Dynamics Beacon Center

272 MacDonough Street, Room 101

(718) 453-7004

UJC at St. Johns Bread and Life

795 Lexington Avenue

(718) 574-0058

SUNSET PARK

Center for Family Life, Community Service Program

5505 4th Avenue

(718) 492-3585

Center for Family Life

443 39th Street, 3rd Floor

(718) 633-4823

BROWNSVILLE

Common Ground Community

444 Thomas South Boyland Street, Suite 104

(718) 282-2308

SOUTH BROOKLYN

Fifth Avenue Committee

621 DeGraw Street

(718) 237-2017

Good Shepherd Services

503 5th Avenue

(718) 965-3313

EAST NEW YORK

Groundwork Inc.

595 Sutter Avenue

(718) 346-2200 x105

Women in Need

Liberty Family Residence

51 Junius Street

(718) 495-6292 x 857, 877

CROWN HEIGHTS

NYLAG at Kings County Hospital

451 Clarkson Avenue (building E)

(212) 613-5066

BUSHWICK

Make the Road NY

301 Grove Street

(718) 418-7690

QUEENS

JAMAICA

Child Center of New York, Jamaica Clinic

89-56 162nd Street, Second Floor

(718) 245-4010 X216

WOODSIDE

Family Development Center of SCO Family of Services

70-20 47th Avenue

(718) 803-2000

ASTORIA

UJC at Hour Children Food Pantry

36-49 11th Street

(646) 602-5600

STATEN ISLAND

Project Hospitality’s Community Services Center

514 Bay Street

(718) 273-6737

NYLAG at Community Health Center of Richmond

235 Richmond Avenue

(718) 876-1732