Buffalo, NY Financial Assistance
An Essential Guide to Government Financial Assistance in Buffalo, New York
At times, life may throw curveballs that put us in financial turmoil. Luckily, several government initiatives and non-profit organizations in Buffalo, New York, exist to help individuals or families during such challenging times. This guide provides comprehensive information on the available government financial assistance options, their eligibility criteria, application processes, and more.
Government Financial Assistance Options
1. Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
This federally-funded program provides temporary financial assistance to eligible families to help cover essential expenses, including housing, utilities, groceries, and healthcare. The TANF program primarily targets low-income families with minor children.
2. Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
SNAP is a national program that avails funds to individuals and families struggling to afford adequate food. The recipients receive an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card every month, which they can use to purchase eligible food items at SNAP-approved stores.
3. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
LIHEAP financially assists low-income households unable to handle their home energy costs. It helps in covering essential household utilities, including heating and cooling energy costs.
Eligibility Criteria
The eligibility criterion for government assistance primarily depends on the applicant's income level, size of the family, assets, and residency status.
TANF applicants should fulfill the following eligibility requirements:
- Be a U.S. national, legal alien or permanent resident
- Be a resident of New York State
- Be in dire need, at risk, or have low or very low income
- Be a parent or relative taking care of children below 18 years old
For SNAP, an applicant must meet this criterion:
- Be a U.S. national, legal alien or permanent resident
- Have a current bank balance under $2000 ($3000 for 60 years old or older or disabled)
For LIHEAP, the eligibility is primarily decided on income, family size, and the form of home energy used.
How to Apply
All the government assistance programs allow applicants to submit their applications online via the myBenefits portal on the New York State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance website. Additionally, local New York Department of Social Services offices facilitate in-person or mail application processes.
Non-profit Agencies for Financial Assistance
1. The Salvation Army - Buffalo Area Human Services
The Salvation Army offers emergency rent and utility assistance for eligible families in Buffalo. They also provide food assistance and clothing vouchers.
2. Catholic Charities of Buffalo
This organization provides emergency financial assistance to deserving individuals and families. They offer comprehensive help in rent, utilities, transportation, clothing, and other forms of financial distress.
Overcoming Financial Need
While government aid and non-profit organizations are viable, temporary solutions, incorporating long-term strategies is essential. Pursuing education or employment training to enhance earning capabilities, effective budgeting, and saving, accessing affordable housing and healthcare, and using social supports can contribute to climbing out of financial hardship gradually.
Professional financial advisors or local credit counseling agencies can provide personalized strategies to manage and improve financial conditions.
Everyone goes through difficult financial times. The key is to understand that support is available and to seek out resources that can help. Exploring all options and being proactive in overcoming the financial hardship is what will set the path for a financially stable future.
Search for Financial Assistance in New York
Latest additions in New York
Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8986030,-78.8729670
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Section 8 Housing
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8967674,-78.8863847
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8986030,-78.8729670
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Section 8 Housing
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8967674,-78.8863847
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Rental Assistance Corporation of Buffalo
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8986030,-78.8729670
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Section 8 Housing
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8967674,-78.8863847
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Housing Opportunities Made Equal, Inc
Ensures the
people of Western New York an equal opportunity to live in the housing
and communities of their choice through education, advocacy, enforcement
of fair housing laws, and the creation of housing opportunities. .. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8929539,-78.8720131
- Phone
- 716-854-1400
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Belmont Shelter Corp.
Belmont Shelter Corp. has just
completed its twenty-fifth year of working to meet the need for quality,
affordable homes for lower income families, seniors and those with
special needs. To accomplish that mission, we continue to focus on
rental and homeownership assistance programs, housing counseling and
housing-related educational programs, developing new and preserving
existing housing and educating the public about the benefits of and need
for affordable shelter and fair housing opportunity. Our efforts to
achieve these goals are strengthened by many valuable assets. We are
unique in our highly specialized knowledge and training in the housing
field and the scope of the services we provide.
We benefit from a proven track record, a high degree of fiscal
responsibility and an excellent working relationship with our
supporters. In 2002, we received 3,700 applications for rental
assistance; averaged 100% utilization of available rental assistance
vouchers and conducted 75-80 Housing Quality Inspections per day. We
launched the Step Up Home Ownership Program, enabling households to
utilize their Section 8 assistance to purchase a home. We developed and
sold 11 single family homes. We were the first area organization to take
advantage of HUD s new Dollar Home Program and submitted 8 funding
applications for multi-family housing, the largest of which is funding
the construction of our newest residential development, the 100-unit
senior housing complex Southwind Landing. In Property Management
activity in 2002, we opened three new housing complexes and fully rented
them in record time. We also hired a Service Coordinator to enhance the
services available to residents of our managed properties. We identified
two low-income populations as the most difficult to reach: those living
outside of Buffalo and first ring suburbs, and the Hispanic population.
To improve outreach and services to these populations, we opened our
first full-service satellite office, in the Village of Hamburg, began
advertising in Spanish, and took steps to ensure the availability of
translation services at our central office.
We greatly expanded our educational services to include monthly training
for property owners and their staff on how to work safely with
lead-based paint; a new certification program, The Renters Edge,
designed to teach what it takes to be a successful, desirable tenant;
and a community education workshop called Taking Care of the Basics,
which offered the public access to a wide range of housing-related
information and organizations. Financially, we expanded our sources of
revenue for services through the generosity of private sources, notably
HSBC Bank and the Federal Home Loan Banks of New York and Cincinnati, as
well as through bonding from the NYS Housing Finance Agency and with
equity funds raised through the Low Income Housing Tax Credit program.
To continue a high level of service, we will look for ways to increase
access to private funding to supplement, and in some cases replace,
government funding. Moving into the future, we anticipate modest growth
in staff and services as we continue our commitment to our organization
s values and goals. Related to this growth is the fact that we have
already effectively outgrown our present offices, a situation for which
we will need to find cost-effective solutions during the coming year.
The need for affordable housing remains significant, particularly for
the growing senior population. At the same time, competition for the
resources to meet that need is also growing. We will continue to rely on
the many talents and devotion of our staff to meet these challenges. .. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.9062170,-78.8669250
- Phone
- (716) 884-7791
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Rental Assistance Corporation Of Buffalo
The Rental Assistance
Corporation of Buffalo (RACB), a not-for profit
organization, was
established in 1989. The City of Buffalo, as the
Public Housing
Authority (PHA), entered into a contract with RACB for
the purpose of
administering the Section 8 Existing Housing programs
funded by the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
RACB administers the Housing Voucher and Moderate
Rehabilitation
Programs. Through these Section 8 programs, RACB and the
City seek to
provide rental assistance on behalf of low-income families
and
elderly, or handicapped, or disabled individuals who could
not
otherwise afford decent, safe and sanitary housing.
RACB also participates in the Family Self
Sufficiency (FSS) Program.
FSS is the means for subsidized housing
participants to set goals and
work toward economic independence. In
addition, RACB administers a
very small Homeownership Program - where
FSS participants are able to
use their subsidy to purchase single
family homes for themselves.
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8986030,-78.8729670
- Phone
- (716) 882-0063
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Office of Strategic Planning - BUFFALO
*Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program*
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009,which ludes $1.5 billion for a Homelessness
Prevention Fund. Funding for this program, called the Homelessness
Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), is being distributed
based on the formula used for the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program.
Grantees may provide rental assistance or services to eligible program
participants who are residing or would like to reside outside their
jurisdiction. They may also fund ubgrantees that serve persons outside
of the jurisdiction, subgrantees that are located outside of the
jurisdiction, and subgrantees that serve multiple jurisdictions. A
grantee may establish more stringent requirements, such as requiring
that HPRP funds be spent within the jurisdiction or establishing a
residency requirement,but HUD is not setting these requirements.
Counties served:Dutchess County
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8876884,-78.8738709
- Phone
- (716) 851-5654
- Location
- Buffalo, NY
Erie County, Department of Environment and Planning - ERIE COUNTY
*Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program*
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009,which ludes $1.5 billion for a Homelessness
Prevention Fund. Funding for this program, called the Homelessness
Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), is being distributed
based on the formula used for the Emergency Shelter Grants (ESG) program.
Grantees may provide rental assistance or services to eligible program
participants who are residing or would like to reside outside their
jurisdiction. They may also fund ubgrantees that serve persons outside
of the jurisdiction, subgrantees that are located outside of the
jurisdiction, and subgrantees that serve multiple jurisdictions. A
grantee may establish more stringent requirements, such as requiring
that HPRP funds be spent within the jurisdiction or establishing a
residency requirement,but HUD is not setting these requirements.
Counties served:Suffolk County
.. (continue to details page for more info and costs)
42.8840190,-78.8766960
- Phone
- (716) 8586927
- Location
- Buffalo, NY