Temporary assistance caseload climbs; county outlines housing, treatment and outreach steps

Diane Anderson, director of temporary assistance, reported to the Chautauqua County Human Services Committee on service data for September and on a series of programs intended to address rising temporary assistance (TA) caseloads, homelessness and substance-use barriers.

Anderson told the committee the participation rate figures for September were 12.8 percent for New York State, 12.6 percent for the rest of state and 10.7 percent for Chautauqua County. She said 195 individuals were engaged in work activities in September; 58 of those counted positively toward the participation rate while 137 participated at levels insufficient to count. Anderson said the county sent 55 conciliation notices and processed 36 sanctions in the month; of the sanctions, she reported four were in "all families," 10 were safety-net cases and 22 were for noncompliance related to substance-abuse requirements. She reported 36 individuals were in sanction status at month's end and 27 remained sanctioned beyond their sanction period.

On treatment referrals, Anderson summarized the IMA report and noted referrals, assessments and treatment placements: the transcript…