Welcome to the Community Resource Handbook! In these pages you will find a full range of information regarding services available to homeless, formerly homeless, and low income single adults and families throughout New York City. The Handbook contains information about the Department of Homeless Services shelter system and the types of services available in New York City as well as locations and phone numbers of services agencies in the five boroughs.

We hope this Handbook will be used by caseworkers, housing specialists, aftercare workers and clients to identify and access community resources that meet the needs of each individual and unique family.

The information provided contains specific telephone numbers for various City and community-based services. Please note that inclusion in the directory does not imply endorsement by the City of New York. In addition, contact numbers often change. DHS will work to keep this Handbook as up-to-date as possible, but if you notice any information that is not correct and current, please email bdistefa@dhs.nyc.gov. If you are in need of a service not listed in the handbook, you can always contact 311, the City of New York’s information hotline, which will connect you to the appropriate number 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Table of Contents

1. Advocacy
• What is an advocate?
• How do I find an advocate?

2. Childcare
• What are the types of childcare?
• Overview of childcare
• How can childcare help me? 
• How can childcare benefit my child?
• How do I pay for childcare?
• How do I find childcare?
• Tips on choosing quality childcare
• Tips on finding childcare for a child with special needs
• I found a job, but it’s at night. Who will take care of my child?
• Suggested information to leave with a babysitter
• What is universal pre-kindergarten and is my child eligible?
• What is child support and how do I apply?
• Directory of Childcare Offices and Services:
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island
• New York City Licensed Day Care  (All Boroughs)
• Group Family Day Care  (All Boroughs)
• Family Day Care
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Staten Island

3. Clothing
• Tips to dress warm in the winter
• My family needs clothing
• Directory of clothing sources:
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island

4. Education/School
• My child needs help with homework
• What does my child need to graduate?
• Tell me about colleges and universities in NYC
• What is a General Equivalency Diploma (GED)?
• Where can I get free GED preparation courses?
• My child is being suspended from school
• My child is being held back
• How do I enroll my child in a public school?
• What age can my child attend school?
• My child is an immigrant; does that affect her school enrollment?
• Immunization is a requirement for school entry. Where can I get my child immunized?
• How can my child change school mid-year?
• My child has a disability. What resources are available?
• I want to gain computer skills
• How can parents become involved in schools and school governance?
• What is the Beacon Program?
• Beacon’s five core academic areas
• Youth activities at Beacon
• Beacon Community Centers Frequently Asked Questions
• Directory of Education/School Offices and Services:
   • Adult Literacy Programs
          Bronx
          Brooklyn
          Manhattan
          Queens
          Staten Island
   • Beacon Community Centers
          Bronx
          Brooklyn
          Manhattan
          Queens
          Staten Island
   • Public Libraries
          Bronx
          Brooklyn
          Manhattan
          Queens
          Staten Island

5. Employment
• Job seeker resources
• Tips on preparing for an interview
• Do’s and Don’ts during an interview
• I found a job, but it’s at night. Who will take care of my child?
• I’ve just been laid off. How do I get unemployment insurance?
• Discrimination rights for and during employment
• Employment Resources:
       Free Job Placement and Education Training

6. Public Benefits
• My family composition has changed
• What is the Federal Poverty Level?
• Public Benefit Listing
• Food Stamp, Income Support, and Medicaid Centers:
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island

7. Family Violence
• What is Domestic Violence?
• What is child neglect and how can you prevent it?
• What are types of maltreatment?
• My child makes me so ANGRY! (Peaceful discipline)
• I am under stress and I may do violent harm to my child
• How can I contact my local police?
• How can the City help a domestic violence victim?
• Safe Horizon: Who they are?
• Safe Horizon: What they do?
• Safe Horizon Hotlines
• Safe Horizon: Counseling for children and adults
• Safe Horizon: Community Programs
• Safe Horizon: Legal assistance
• Safe Horizon: What is elder abuse?
• Safe Horizon: What is child abuse?
• Safe Horizon: Homeless youth
• Directory of Police Precincts:
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island

8. Food
• Healthy eating habits
• My family needs food
• Food Sources Guidelines (A list of documents to bring for food pantries and soup kitchens.)
• Food Sources
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island
• American Red Cross Locations (All Boroughs)

9. Home Economics
• Do’s and Don’ts of keeping a clean house
• Weekly activities to keep your home clean
• I have no heat or hot water in my apartment. What can I do?
• How can I negotiate with my landlord about maintenance in the building?
• What can I do if my apartment needs maintenance and the owner is ignoring my requests?
• What should I do if my building owner is harassing me?
• I have a pest problem
• I see drugs being sold in my apartment. What can I do?
• I am behind on rent
• I am behind on electric bills
• Know building owner’s responsibilities and rights to your apartment
• Know tenant responsibilities to prevent eviction

10. Housing
(Section is being updated.)

11. Identification/Documents
• Where to go to secure documentation
• Documentation Checklist (Documents needed for identification purposes and/or access to services)

12. Immigration Services
• I am an immigrant (legal or illegal); do I qualify for public benefits?
• Can my child attend public school in New York City?
• How do I enroll my child in a public school?
• What are the advantages of a United States citizenship?
• How do I become a United States citizen?

13. Medical (Health)
• I need information about AIDS
• I have a question about my child’s health
• What are the recommended pre-school immunization shots?
• I, or my family member, has a disability
• I am worried about asbestos and/or lead in my home
• Tips on making sure household members have good hygiene
• I need a copy of a birth or death certificate
• Where can I pick up medication?
• I need health insurance for my family
• How do I pay for my medical bills?
• I have a question about women’s health issues
• I am pregnant!
• Information about the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers (ARC’s)
• Purpose of the Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers
• Planned Parenthood of New York City
• Salvation Army Adult Rehabilitation Centers  (All Boroughs)
• Salvation Army Thrift Shops
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island
• Clinics: Free Health Services
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island
• Hospitals 
       Bronx
       Brooklyn
       Manhattan
       Queens
       Staten Island

14. Money Management
• Steps on how to make your own budget
• Applying for and using credit cards
• Guidelines for paying off debt quickly
• Money Management Budget Form

15. Parenting
• I am getting a divorce – How do I make it easier for my child?
• My child just got her report card, what should I do?
• Suggested preparation with my child for the first day of class
• Suggested time to be spent with child
• Daily routines to ensure child’s health
• New York City for Fun (List of recreational activities to do in the city.)

16. Youth Services
• I need to talk to someone
• How old must I be to work?
• What are working papers and do I need them?
• How much must my employer pay me?
• What can my teenage child do during the summer recess and/or after school?