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Bureau of Shelter Services
Each night in New York State (NYS) over 44,000 homeless persons, including 10,500 families and 11,500 single adults, receive emergency shelter and other assistance. Of these, 4,100 families and 9,800 single adults are housed in facilities approved and monitored by the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).
The Shelter Services staff is responsible for the oversight of family and single shelters for the homeless that are operated by local social services districts and not-for-profit organizations. This includes the development and administration of agency policies and regulations that establish the standards for the operation of facilities.
Shelter Services staff reviews and approves family shelter operational plans and applications to operate shelters for single adults. The operational plan and application set forth the facility’s plan for meeting the requirements contained in regulations. Currently, there are 75 approved family shelters and 65 certified shelters for single adults. As part of the oversight of the shelter program in NYS, the staff conducts inspections of family shelters and shelters for single adults. Inspections focus on health and safety issues, including building safety and compliance with state and local codes and the provision of a program that is designed to promote self-sufficiency and enable clients to move to housing other than emergency housing.
In addition, fiscal information provided by family shelter providers is reviewed in order to establish the rates of payment to the shelters, which are adjusted periodically. Expenditures made for single adult shelters are monitored to ensure that funding is claimed appropriately.
Family shelters provide shelter and services to 10 or more homeless families. Services include: private rooms, access to three nutritional meals a day, supervision, assessment services, permanent housing preparation services, recreational services, information and referral services, access to health services and child care services. Shelters for single adults provide temporary residential care, room, board, supervision, information and referral, and social rehabilitation services to adults who need temporary accommodations, supervision and services. Shelters for single adults serving fewer than 20 individuals do not need to be certified by the OTDA unless a local social services district operates the shelter.
For more information on Shelter Services please contact:
Ruth Ann Pickering
518.486.7738
RuthAnn.Pickering@otda.state.ny.us