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 records that 53 individuals were referred for assessment, a portion did not show for assessments and a subset of assessed clients were referred to StartTreat or placed in short-term, long-term or outpatient programs. Anderson said that in September IMA monitored 124 cases, nine individuals completed treatment or monitoring, 28 cases were closed for noncompliance, and five individuals were determined to be employable (a 3.7 percent employability rate); the average number of days to employability reported was 93.

Anderson said the TA caseload has risen: September's TA caseload was 1,946 and the county's December number rose to about 2,000. She compared levels to earlier years, noting the caseload is approaching numbers seen in 2012. The SNAP caseload remained stable at about 11,122 in September. Anderson and committee members discussed drivers of rising TA caseloads, pointing to housing shortages and substance-use and mental-health needs as factors.

The county described several program actions: an allocation from the state to support households at risk of eviction or foreclosure under a program the transcript identifies as "Shelter Arrears Eviction Forestalment (SAFE)," which requires applicants to apply for temporary assistance first; Chautauqua Opportunities was awarded the SAFE administration contract. Chautauqua Opportunities operates the Hope Cabin women's shelter, which Anderson said will have 18 beds and is awaiting certification from OTDA (the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance).

The county issued an RFP and awarded administration of the rental supplement program to Stockwell Opportunities; Anderson said Stockwell will administer the program beginning in April and the county anticipates serving approximately 90 households with the supplement. Anderson said the rental allowance level has not increased and urged continued advocacy to OTDA for higher allowances.

Other initiatives include a family-centered case-management program to assist families with complex needs and a blended team with mental-hygiene staff; a low-barrier overnight recovery center that would provide short-term overnight accommodations and supports for people experiencing homelessness with substance-use disorders (the county expected to announce an award soon); and a shelter-supplement application submitted to OTDA in December 2023 that Anderson said has moved to the state's Division of Budget. If approved, Anderson said the shelter supplement could assist roughly 50 families (about 125 individuals for single-person cases) and yield local cost savings she estimated at about $601,000 for families and more than $2.2 million for single individuals, though that approval remains pending.

Anderson also said that for September there were 253 cases in temporary housing (98 single males, 79 single females, three couples and 73 families) and that the county's cost for temporary housing that month was $591,069.88.

Why it matters: County officials said rising TA caseloads, persistent housing gaps and substance-use treatment needs are increasing demand for emergency housing and services. The new contracts and programs are intended to expand capacity and target supports where housing and treatment barriers are acute.

Next steps: Anderson said staff will continue to pursue OTDA approvals, finalize contract starts in April for the rental supplement, monitor the Hope Cabin certification and return to the committee with updates.