KIDSTRONG is a FREE support group for children that have been exposed to family violence. Available for children 3 to 12 yrs old. On-going enrollment, no wait list. Thursday Nights 6:30 pm to 8 pm. Contact: (716)692-5580
People Inc. is Western New York's leading non-profit human services agency. People Inc. aids families, people with disabilities, seniors, and children live healthy, independent, and productive lives through a variety of services, including residential, employment, community outreach, health care and recreation programs. For example, People Inc. offers a comprehensive range of health care services for people with disabilities, children, seniors, and the community, such as adolescent rehabilitative services, community behavioral health programs, and the People Inc.’s Elmwood Health Center, which is open to the public.
Based in Buffalo New York, Belmont Housing Resources (“Belmont”) manages affordable low income housing and apartments for seniors and families. Their mission is to provide safe government subsidized housing – also known as Section 8 housing, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development housing, and United States Department of Agriculture rural housing – to the people who qualify and are in need. Belmont provides affordable low income housing services throughout Western New York, the Adirondack region, the Albany/Saratoga area, and the Catskill/Hudson Valley region.
Local Initiatives Support Corporation’s (“LISC”) mission is to bridge opportunity gaps for people of all identities. LISC has long deployed a comprehensive strategy for helping residents connect to safe, affordable housing, quality education and job training, financial coaching and much more--all the requisites for the successful, satisfying and healthy life that everyone deserves. The LISC’s resources include aiding individuals and families with affordable housing, education, economic development, financial stability, health, safety and justice, and policy and research.
Neighborhood Legal Services’ (“NLS”) goal is to create access to the justice system for low-income and disabled people without the means to pursue their rights by providing free legal services. NLS’s legal and advocacy services include disability, family, domestic violence, housing, and public benefits. NLS also offers translations in over 23 languages.
The Center for Elder Law & Justice (CELJ) offers free legal services for the elderly. CELJ assures that their clients live independently and with dignity through advocating for robust Elder Law. Through advocating for robust Elder Law, CELJ helps senior community members live their best life possible, regardless of their income or social status. CELJ provides a wide variety of services for the aging, disabled, and financially eligible, such as health care advocacy, elder abuse prevention, income maintenance consumer protection, foreclosure prevention, housing and assisted living evictions.
Journey's End Refugee Services, Inc. (“Journey’s End”) is a Christian community-based organization with the mission of welcoming refugees without regard to ethnic origin or creed and provide each with the resources and support they need to become successful, active and contributing members of the Western New York Community. Journey's End offers an array of services to refugees resettled into Western New York, including refugee resettlement, education services, employment services, immigration legal services, and interpreting services.
Community Services was founded by Mark Foley and began offering services in Western New York in 1989. Nearly 30 years later, Community Services now has a staff of 900 and offers more than 40 programs, including, but not limited to adult services, children and youth service, and housing options throughout the Western New York area. The Agency’s administrative offices are located throughout Erie County with offices in Buffalo, Lackawanna, Kenmore and North Tonawanda.
Evergreen Health Services is an organization that offers an innumerable amount of health care services. Health care services extend to HIV testing and treatment, Hepatitis C care, LGBTQ+ health and trans specialty care, chronic illness support, and HIV care. Evergreen Health Services are recognized for their primary and specialty care practice and full-service pharmacy. The programs and services mentioned are available by walk-in or appointment in Buffalo, Jamestown and satellite locations across WNY to help you live your healthiest life.
West Side Neighborhood Housing Services (“WSNHS”) provides classes that are designed to help support and guide home buyers. WSNHS classes are designed to guide home buyers from the initial stages of buying a home all the way to managing household finances and maintaining good credit. WSNHS also offers a variety of programs to finance home repairs for borrowers of all income levels.
The Buffalo Urban League’s (“Urban League”) Mission Is to empower African Americans, other minorities and disadvantaged individuals to secure economic self-reliance, parity, power and civil rights. The Urban League offers family preservation support, workforce development, and housing and community development services. For example, the Urban League aids individuals and families through intricate adoption processes, family group conferencing/counseling, and senior services.
The Community Action Organization (“CAO”) To promote opportunities for low-income individuals, families and communities to achieve and sustain self-sufficiency through advocacy, partnerships, access to services and low-to-moderate income housing development. The CAO’s programs include, but are not limited to, emergency and family services, employment and training, drug abuse research and treatment, youth services, and education & engineering greenhouse and market garden services, which offers employment training and agriculture education to students.
The purpose of the Buffalo Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (“NAACP”) is to improve the political, educational, social and economic status of minority groups; to eliminate racial prejudice; to keep the public aware of the adverse effects of racial discrimination; and to take lawful action to secure its elimination. For example, currently, the NAACP strongly advocates for environmental and climate justice, which includes issues regarding inadequate access to healthy food, inadequate transportation, air and water pollution, and unsafe homes.
Habitat for Humanity Buffalo makes homeownership possible for local families. Families in Habitat Buffalo’s homebuyer program are able to purchase a decent, safe, affordable home. This is attainable for low-income families because Habitat Buffalo subsidizes the cost of the house through grants, donations, and volunteer labor. Their ReStore Program also supports their mission to help the Western New York community. Every year, thousands of household items, such as appliances, furniture, and building materials are saved from landfills, and are repurposed through our ReStore Program, which then helps to defray the cost of construction, and provides the community low-cost options for household goods.
The Erie County Department of Social Services provides an array of programs and aid to individuals and families in the Western New York community. The programs include the Home Energy Assistance Program (“HEAP”), SNAP Benefits, Temporary Assistance, Day Care, Medicaid, Affordable Housing, Temporary and Disability Assistance, and Children & Family Services.
The Rural Housing Repair Loans and Grants program provides loans and grants to very low-income homeowners to repair, improve, modernize, or to remove health and safety hazards in their rural dwellings. Loans of up to $20,000 and grants of up to $7,500 are available. Loans and grants can be combined for up to $27,500 in assistance. In order to be eligible for the loan/grant program, you must be a homeowner who has very low income, and you must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident who lives in a rural area. In order to be eligible for the grant program, you must meet the above requirements, and also be aged 62 years or older.
Child and Family Services dedicates its resources to meet the needs of children and families. Child and Family Services fosters safe and healthy environments for children and families in local homes, schools, workplaces and communities. The services offered include issues and matters related to counseling, domestic violence, mediation, education, community, residential, and foster care and adoption.
Food Bank of WNY offers a FeedMore WNY’s Food Bank program, which works to feed those in need by acting as a bridge between available food and member agencies. The Food Bank receives donations of food from their partners in the food industry, including farmers, packers, manufacturers, grocers, and wholesalers, as well as from community food drives and individual food donations. The Food Bank also operates a variety of programs that fight hunger through nutrition education and the direct distribution of food to vulnerable communities, such as SNAP outreach and Meals on Wheels.
Comprehensive Domestic Violence Services, including Advocacy, Safety Planning, Orders of Protection, Pressing Charges, and Legal Assistance. Supervised Child Play area available so parent may meet with counselor privately. Multiple locations in Buffalo, Orchard park, and Amherst.
Spanish language Counseling and Advocacy available. Spanish speaking Case Workers to help explain court process.
Services for immigrant and undocumented victims, such as, court advocacy, interpreting and translation services, links to shelter and counseling, assistance finding employment and housing, help applying for public assistance, links to local social-service agencies.
Bankruptcy pre-file counseling and education. CCCS offers Financial Counseling, Credit Report Review, Student Loan Counseling, Housing Counseling, and provides financial education workshops throughout the community. CCCS also offers Credit Repayment Plans, which is a partnership between CCCS and the individual to repay all unsecured debts. Unsecured debts include credit cards, personal or consolidation loans, collection accounts and medical debt.
The NYCLU is a public-interest law firm that principally addresses issues involving challenges to a government law, policy or practice affecting the constitutional rights – that is, the civil liberties and civil rights – of a significant number of people arising only in New York State. Almost all of our cases involve constitutional issues and because the United States Constitution and New York Constitution protect only against unlawful government action.
Immigration representation available for certain crime victims. Clients must be income eligible. Cases can be complex so client needs to call and discuss case with staff as soon as possible. Volunteer Lawyers Project also provides child custody/visitation representation, divorce, bankruptcy, and debt services. Contact: (716)8470752.
Helps people with disabilities on transition services, reasonable accommodations, independent living skills, and personal care aid services. Contact: (716)8260822.