Rath Building
158 Pearl Street, 1st Floor Buffalo, NY 14202
www2.erie.gov/socialservices/
Main Phone
716-858-8000
Emergency Services Voicemail
716-858-6265
Fax
716-858-6852
Primary Services
Electric Service Payment Assistance, Gas Service Payment Assistance, Heating Fuel Payment Assistance, Home Maintenance and Minor Repair Grants/Loans, Household Goods Storage, Mortgage Payment Assistance, Moving Expense Assistance, Rent Payment Assistance, Rental Deposit Assistance, Service Animal Purchase Assistance, Undesignated Temporary Financial Assistance, Water Service Payment Assistance
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
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
Hours
Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm.
Eligibility
Residents of Erie County.
Intake 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.
- 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.
Program Fees
Free.
Handicap Accessible?
No
Date of Official Change
Jul 27, 2020
Contacts
Application Email (Primary)
TAEmergencyServices@erie.gov
CharBrenna Marks
Director of Temporary Assistance & Emergency Services
charbrenna.marks@erie.gov
716-858-6660