Update: Department closures and assistance information

Dear colleagues, clients and community members,

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, HVJC wants to ensure all are updated in regards to the Department of Social Services (DSS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), court appearances as well as information in obtaining assistance during this time/En respuesta a la pandemia de COVID-19, HVJC quiere asegurarse de que todos estén informados con respecto al Departamento de Servicios Sociales (DSS), El Servicio de ciudadanía e inmigración de Estados Unidos (USCIS), apariencias ante la corte también información para obtener asistencia durante este tiempo.

Multilingual info from NYIC.

National list of resources for undocumented immigrants

Important Notice/Noticia Importante : 

Courts are still accepting and hearing emergency filings. These include Orders of Protection, certain child support matters including, violations, family offenses and support orders. Criminal petitions, and newly filed juvenile delinquency cases. Please reach out to our office with any questions or assistances (914)-308-3490 Ex.4. If you are a victim of domestic violence or victim of a crime we have support and resources for you please call our office for assistance (914) 308-3490 Ext. 4

Las cortes aún están aceptando y escuchando solicitudes de emergencia. Estos incluyen órdenes de protección, ciertos asuntos de manutención de menores, incluyendo violaciones, ofensas familiares, y ordenes de manutención, peticiones criminales y casos de delincuencia juvenil presentados recientemente. Comuníquese con nuestra oficina si tiene alguna pregunta o asistencia (914) 308-3490 Ext. 4. Si eres una víctima de violencia doméstica o de un crimen tenemos apoyo y recurso para ti. Llame a nuestra oficina para obtener ayuda. (914)308-3490 Ext. 4

Most recent NYS Information:

• New York State on PAUSE: In New York we know that Policies Assure Uniform Safety for Everyone
• Governor Cuomo will sign an Executive Order mandating that 100% of the workforce must stay home, excluding essential services. Exemptions from the order will include shipping, media, warehousing, grocery and food production, pharmacies, healthcare providers, utilities, banks and related financial institutions.
• Enacting Matilda’s Law to protect New Yorkers age 70+ and those with compromised immune systems 
  • Remain indoors
  • Can go outside for solitary exercise
  • Pre-screen all visitors by taking their temperature
  • Wear a mask in the company of others
  • Stay at least 6 feet from others
  • Do not take public transportation unless urgent and absolutely necessary
• All barbershops, hair salons, tattoo or piercing salons, nail salons, hair removal services and related personal care services will be closed to the public effective Saturday, March 21 at 8:00PM.
• New York will implement a 90-day moratorium on evictions for residential and commercial tenants.
• Casinos, gyms, theaters, retail shopping malls, amusement parks and bowling alleys are closed until further notice. Bars and restaurants are closed, but takeout can be ordered during the period of closure.
• Testing is free for all eligible New Yorkers as ordered by a health care provider.
• Your local health department is your community contact for COVID-19 concerns.  

More NYS Info here: https://www.ny.gov/

Para más información sobre NYS aquí: : https://www.ny.gov/

Westchester County Mental Health Services: Information, Support and Referral line at (914) 995-1900 8 a.m. to 8 p.m./Text #914-461-7281.

Court information:

Full statement: Administrative Order from Hon. Kathie E. Davidson.

Declaración completa: Administrative Order from Hon. Kathie E. Davidson.

The updated Schedules of Consolidated Court Locations and Assignments/Los horarios actualizados de ubicaciones Consolidadas de la Corte y asignaciones:

USCIS: Offices are closed to the public, as are immigration courts.

1. Suspends in-person services until at least April. However, USCIS will provide emergency services for limited situations. To schedule an emergency appointment, contact the USCIS Contact Center.
2. USCIS domestic field offices will send notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments and naturalization ceremonies impacted by this closure. USCIS asylum offices will send interview cancellation notices and automatically reschedule asylum interviews.
3. Public Charge information here

USCIS will provide further updates as the situation develops and will continue to follow CDC guidance.

USCIS: Las oficinas estarán cerradas al público ( closed to the public) , y las cortes de inmigración (immigration courts).

1. Suspenden los servicios en persona hasta abril. Sin embargo, USCIS proporcionara servicios de emergencia para situaciones limitadas. Para hacer una cita de emergencia, comuníquese con el Centro de contacto de USCIS ( USCIS Contact Center.)
2. Las oficinas locales de USCIS enviarán avisos a los solicitantes y peticionarios con nuevas citas y ceremonias de naturalización también serán afectadas por este cierre. Las oficinas de asilo de USCIS enviarán avisos de cancelación de entrevista y automáticamente reprogramarán las entrevistas de asilo.
3. Información de carga pública aquí (here )
4. USCIS proporcionara más información a medida que se desarrolle la situación y continuara siguiendo los consejos de la CDC.

Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA): Full statement OTDA’s policy statement. This is mandatory for Westchester.

Westchester’s Policy:

1. New Applications for TA: can call DSS and it will mail application to clients, phone interviews as well.

3.  EA: Same as TA/ask for applications to be mailed if do not want to or cannot go in person. Phone interviews, but can request to use phone in DSS office if they don’t have a phone and client should request a phone interview same day.

4. SNAP and HEAP: New applications and recerts can apply online.

5. All in person meetings are being canceled.  Correspondence is being sent out informing clients that appointments will be by phone and no need to recertify in person.

If a client does not have a phone, one can requested to use a phone in the lobby to talk to a worker. 

Oficina de Asistencia temporal y Discapacitados (OTDA): Declaración completa (OTDA’s policy statement) Esto es obligatorio para Westchester.

La póliza de Westchester:

1. Nuevas aplicaciones para TA: Puedes llamar a DSS y ellos enviaran la aplicación por correo a los clientes, habrá entrevistas telefónicas también.
2.  EA: los mismo que TA/ tiene que pedir que le envíen solicitudes si no puedes ir en persona o no quieres ir. Entrevistas telefónicas, pero puedes solicitar el uso del teléfono a la oficina de DSS si no tiene teléfono y el cliente debe de solicitar una entrevista telefónica el mismo día.
3. SNAP y HEAP: Nuevas solicitudes y recertificaciones se pueden aplicar sobre el internet.
4. Todas las reuniones en persona se están cancelando. Correspondencias se han enviado a los clientes informándolos que sus citas serán por teléfono y no es necesario recertificar en persona.

Si un cliente no tiene teléfono, se puede solicitar un teléfono en el pasillo para hablar con un trabajador.

For food assistance:

*Please note that some of these community organizations may not be operating as usual.

Feeding Westchester, county wide, (914) 923-1100 contact this number for an agency locator. Mobile food pantry schedule.

Larchmont/ Mamaroneck Hunger Task Force, Mamaroneck CAP. 134 Center Avenue, Mamaroneck, NY 10543, (914) 698-7140.

Vine of Ridgeway Alliance, 193 Ashburton Avenue, Yonkers, NY. Opened Monday/Thursday, 4pm-7pm (numbers distributed at 1pm). Bring bags, No ID required.

New Rochelle CAP, 95 Lincoln Avenue, New Rochelle, NY, (914) 636-3050

Hope Community Services, St. Gabriel's Church, 50 Washington Avenue, New Rochelle, NY 10801, (914) 636-4010.

Fred's Pantry, 137 North Division St., Peekskill, NY 10566, (914) 7376-2636

Salvation Army Food Pantry New Rochelle, 22 Church St, New Rochelle, NY 10801, (914) 632-525.

St. Thomas Brown Bag Lunch, 168 West Boston Post Road, Mamaroneck, New York 10543, (914) 698-0380.

Harrison Community Services Food Pantry, 1 Heineman Place, Harrison, New York 10528, (914) 670-3026

Bethel Baptist Church Food Pantry, 106 Maple Avenue, Mount Kisco, NY 10549, (914) 241-7151.

Rockland County Food Assistance: http://www.rocklandhunger.org/food-pantries-feeding-programs/northern-rockland/?fbclid=IwAR2vD8nYbNBhqB6TG1Iff7lack60Q07ArSrL2bPg_1IaM7lkhewhRfk0loo

We will keep this updated as needed!

Stay updated on the COVID-19 response here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV/index.html