NYC Department of Social Services

Yesterday, the NYC Department of Social Services, NYC Human Resources Administration, and NYC Department of Homeless Services M/WBE Marketplace Program Lead, Raymond Daniel Medina, joined City Hall Leadership and dozens of agency staff and M/WBE industry leaders for a celebration – hosted by the Mayor’s Office of M/WBEs and Michael Garner – of the exemplary efforts of our elected officials, small business industry leaders, and agency leadership. Department of Small Business Services Commissioner Dynishal Gross acknowledged the excellent work of our colleagues at the Department of Consumer and Worker Protection, Department of Transportation, New York City Housing Authority, and New York City School Construction Authority. Congratulations to the awardees!

In CY24, we helped a record number of NYers move from shelter to affordable housing, the majority using CityFHEPS vouchers. Nearly 15,000 households moved from shelter to subsidized permanent housing with a 42% increase in placements using CityFHEPS year-over-year. And we also helped a record number of at-risk NYers stay in their homes using CityFHEPS. More than 4,400 households were able to avoid shelter and remain stably-housed using CityFHEPS through our community-based after-care and prevention efforts. Read more https://on.nyc.gov/40UNDK9.

Almost 1 in 5 New York City renters experience food insecurity. Among this group, those in public housing (26%) and affordable rental units (41%) experience the highest rates. #SNAPshot #FarmBill

Caring for everyone in NYC. To make an appointment, call 1-844-692-4692.

For Nurys Wright, Community Coordinator, Customized Assistance Services (CAS), working with HRA is all in the family. Having joined the agency in 1986, Wright counts her husband, father-in-law, two daughters, and a niece as HRA employees. Read more in her Staff Spotlight.

On Tuesday night, the city conducted its annual “HOPE Survey,” or “Homeless Outreach Population Estimate," to try to estimate the size of the homeless population. DSS Commissioner Molly Wasow Park joined NY1 to demonstrate the HOPE survey method. Watch here https://on.nyc.gov/4jBvOIy.

On January 29th, the NYC Department of Social Services, NYC Human Resources Administration, and NYC Department of Homeless Services hosted “DSS/HRA/DHS Marketplace: Matchmaking for the New Year - Pathways to contracting with Human Service Agencies and Providers”. The event gave over 100 Certified M/WBEs and non-profits the opportunity to meet one-on-one with City Agencies, Human Service Providers, and Project Partners. We celebrated a record turnout with over 580 individual appointments throughout the event. We are grateful to all who attended for joining us in our mission to bring local organizations into our shared work serving New Yorkers in need. Special thanks to our senior leadership and our City agency partners!   We look forward to celebrating more conversations and success stories in the coming months.     To learn more about our program, resources, and events like this, please visit our Resource Page to or email us at mwbe@dss.nyc.gov.   Mayor's Office of M/WBEs, Michael Garner, NYC Department of Small Business Services, NYC Mayor's Office of Contract Services, Fatimah Rashad, Ph.D., NYC Department for the Aging, New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA), NYC Public Schools Career & Technical Education (CTE), NYC Administration for Children's Services, Equus Workforce Solutions, Bowery Residents' Committee, CABS Health Network, EDSI, Homes for the Homeless, Midway Living, NAICA, Urban Resource Institute, Molly Wasow Park, Karen H. St.Hilaire, Joslyn Carter, LCSW, Scott French, Vincent Pullo, Raymond Daniel Medina

Yesterday, HOPE volunteers arrived at sites throughout the city for the 20th annual survey to help build on our ongoing efforts to reach and serve New Yorkers sleeping on the streets. At East 33rd St, DSS Commissioner Molly Park, DHS Administrator Joslyn Carter, Deputy Mayor Anne Williams-Isom, and others spoke to volunteers before the annual survey began. Because of their efforts and those of countless others throughout the city, the NYC Department of Homeless Services will have a better understanding of how to help our neighbors experiencing street homelessness get back on their feet. Thanks for making #HOPE2025 a success!

TOMORROW: You can help NYers experiencing street homelessness with a simple question: “Do you have a place to sleep tonight?” Help NYers in need. Join our #HOPE2025 survey of NYers sleeping on the streets. Learn more and sign up: http://nyc.gov/hope

In this month’s M/WBE in the Mix, we’re happy to introduce you to Daniel Garcia, founder of Salsa Caterers & Special Events. Salsa was one of the first firms to join our Matchmaking Events when we kicked off the series in 2022. Leveraging the relationships they built from one-on-one meetings with key decision makers, they have managed to grow their business and successfully contract with City agencies and Human Service Provider organizations.   The NYC Department of Social Services, NYC Human Resources Administration, and NYC Department of Homeless Services' M/WBE Program Team is delighted to start off 2025 with another of our signature Marketplace events – Matchmaking for the New Year – Pathways to contracting with Human Service Agencies and Providers on January 29th. This in-person event will bring local, City-certified firms and non-profit organizations together with our Human Service Provider partners, agency staff, and representatives from our fellow Human Service Agencies. We’re looking forward to more success stories.   If you’re interested in supporting our work as a vendor, are a Human Service Provider looking to connect with local firms, or want to learn more about how you can join us at upcoming events, please visit our M/WBE Resource Page or email us directly at mwbe@dss.nyc.gov.