Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance

OTDA Helps Open Homeless Housing Project in Albany

Governor Paterson Proclaims November as Homeless Awareness Month - The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) recently helped Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless open its new Sheridan Hollow Housing project, while recognizing November as Homeless Awareness Month, at an event in Albany.

The new facility, built with $1.82 million from OTDA’s Homeless Housing and Assistance Program (HHAP), is providing ten units of permanent housing for chronically homeless individuals and families with disabilities.

Beth Berlin, Executive Deputy Commissioner of OTDA, also presented a Proclamation from Governor David A. Paterson marking November as Homeless Awareness Month in New York State. Read more…

Governor Paterson Announces Opening of Home Energy Assistance Program To Help Struggling New Yorkers Heat Their Homes This Winter

Governor David A. Paterson today announced that New York State’s Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) will open on Monday, November 2. HEAP provides crucial energy assistance benefits that elderly and low-income households rely upon to keep their homes warm in the winter, particularly in these difficult economic times.

“With winter approaching, we remain committed to helping our most vulnerable residents cope with the cost of heating their homes,” Governor Paterson said. “While energy prices have come down, more and more families are struggling in this economic downturn, and assistance offered through HEAP will help them get through the cold weather months.”

HEAP is a federally funded program administered through the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) to aid eligible households in meeting their home energy needs. Read more…

Hundreds Of Jobs To Be Created Across Capital Region Under Governor Paterson's Green Jobs Bill

The State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the State Department of Labor, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) brought attention to the Green Jobs/Green New York Act by hosting events in Albany County and Broome County. These events highlighted New York State’s plans to create green jobs and stimulate investment in weatherization and energy efficiency improvements for residential and commercial buildings in the Capital Region, the Southern Tier, and across the state.

Governor David A. Paterson recently signed the act into law -- which targets the creation of hundreds of jobs across the state -- to help prepare New Yorkers to secure jobs in the 21st century clean energy economy. State Officials also announced at an event in Watervliet that OTDA had approved funding of $300,000 for Albany County, $236,833 for Schenectady County, and $237,548 for Broome County to launch new Green Jobs Corps programs, helping prepare workers for careers in this emerging field. Read more…