Homeless Services
SEBCO has operated two state licensed Tier II homeless family shelters known as Seneca Houses and Freeman Houses, since 1991. Under contract to the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS), these facilities assist 96 families every day in their transition from temporary to permanent housing.
Due
to our excellent track record of service to this needy population, DHS
recently granted SEBCO a new four year contract without being subjected
to the usual open competitive bidding process.
Aside from the difficult task of finding and moving families into permanent housing, we assist our clients with referrals to various counseling and social service programs which prepare them for independent living. Clothes drives, toy drives, and back to school supply drives, are just a few of the projects that both facilities undertake, in an effort to assist the families.
In
addition, workshops are conducted either on-site by appropriate staff or
by outside community agencies, to engage the clients in various programs
to enrich their lives. As part of our housing assistance program, our
staff transport clients to and from their housing and employment
interview appointments, and to other agencies in an effort to ensure
that their applications are expedited.
At Seneca Houses, we have a team consisting of a
Bookkeeper, which services both facilities, an Office Manager, a
Director of Social Services, 3 Case Managers, 2 Housing Specialists, 4
Child Care Recreation staff, and
4 maintenance staff.
At Freeman Houses, we have
another team consisting of an Administrative Assistant, a Case Manager,
a Housing Specialist, 2 Child Care/Recreation staff, and 2 Maintenance
staff.
Our Executive Director for Homeless Services is in charge of the day to
day operations at both facilities, assisting in all special projects,
and teaming up with the staff from each facility in an effort to ensure
that all clients are given every possible advantage in securing new
housing.
Over the last year our staff assisted 67 families in moving to permanent housing, many of which were placed within SEBCO’s own buildings.