Emergency Assistance - ECDSS
158 Pearl St, 1st Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202
Eligibility
Hours
Application process
Applications for Emergency Assistance may be: - Faxed to 716-858-2628 - Mailed to Erie County Department of Social Services, Unit FA6/75000, P.O. Box 120, Buffalo NY 14201-0120 OR - Dropped off at the Rath Building, 158 Pearl Street, 1st Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202 Must provide a reliable phone number on the application. DSS will attempt to contact each client the same day for an interview.
Fees
Free.
Service area
Erie County, NY
Description
Assists eligible individuals in a crisis by issuing one-time, non-recurring payments to meet emergency situations. The unit may assist with security agreements to landlords, extermination fees, moving or storage expenses, and utility arrears payments to avoid shut-offs or to restore service. Financial assistance is made in the form of a loan for utility shut-off, evictions, moving/storage expenses, property repair, rental assistance, mortgage assistance, and foreclosure. A security agreement is provided to landlords instead of a security deposit. Emergency and immediate needs assisted include: - Shelter Arrears - Utility Arrears - Security Agreements - Moving Assistance / Storage Assistance - Water Arrears (only for clients who are in danger of having their water shut off) - Stoves/Fridges/Household Establishments of Furniture (for Households not receiving Temporary Assistance) - Essential Property Repair for Homeowners (pending a health evaluation/inspection to confirm that the issue in need of repair poses a hazard to the residents' health) - Extermination - Grants of Assistance for Guide Dogs - Enhanced Shelter Allowance Determination for Temporary Assistance Recipients - SSI Check Replacement
Data provided by
211 Western New York
What's Here
Providing organization
Erie County - Department of Social Services (ECDSS)