SULLIVAN COUNTY – Last week, Governor Kathy Hochul announced $17.2 million in funding to be awarded to local social services departments across New York, through the Family-Centered Services initiative. 

According to Darren O’Sullivan, Assistant Public Information Officer of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA), the funding includes $2.5 million for the Mid-Hudson region and $165,385 for Sullivan County. 

The funding will help to fund new staff and resources to better serve vulnerable and low-income families, including assisting them in overcoming challenges such as mental health conditions, substance use disorders and transitioning out of homelessness or a domestic violence situation. 

Sullivan County Health and Human Services Commissioner John Liddle said that the county’s Department of Social Services is actively engaged with local affordable housing partners to come up with a detailed plan for their share of the Statewide funding.

“The funding will be used to supplement existing family case management services, with a particular focus on helping families transition from emergency shelter to permanent housing as expeditiously as possible,” said Liddle. 

The Health and Human Services Commissioner said that the plan will be submitted in advance of the August 30 deadline. 

Governor Hochul initially announced the Family-Centered Services initiative in her 2024 State of the State address. 

“We’re strengthening the critical resources that help struggling New Yorkers meet their essential needs and transition to economic security,” Governor Hochul said. “By giving local social services departments the funding to hire more staff and bolster operations, we can bring more families out of poverty and into a brighter future.”