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SEBCO has successfully implemented
social service programs to serve residents. SEBCO firmly believes that strong
social service programs not only improve resident’s qualities of life but
stabilize the community.
SEBCO’s social
services policies were established in 1979. Utilizing a two pronged approach
sought to SEBCO: (i) develop its own community development unit and (ii) to support other local social service providers as Seneca
Center, VIP and SISDA, and
Over the years, strong working relationships have been formed between SEBCO and
other local service providers.
The social services
unit has continued and has grown at an accelerated pace since its inception, and
currently employs forty-eight full-time staffers, eight part-time employees, two
consultants and four volunteers providing social services at the various SEBCO
developments.
Current
Programs
Community Life Services
In 1990, SEBCO
initiated a broad social services program in its first SIP building in Hunts
Point simultaneous to its rent-up of seventy-two apartments. In subsequent
years, Community Life Services expanded to its other multi-family apartment
buildings including other SIP buildings, Vacant Cluster (Hunts Point II; 416
apartments), Enterprise developments, and Section 8 buildings. The families who
live in these buildings represent a broad spectrum of Bronx residents, including
formerly homeless, low and moderate income families and individuals. Today,
approximately 1,500 families in forty-one buildings receive a full range of
social services, including tenant organizing and tenant associations,
counseling, life skills, computer classes, job placement, after school programs,
adult and youth support groups, family weekend retreats, summer day camp, arts
and crafts, newsletters, block parties and outside referrals.
Included in the
organizing efforts is SEBCO’s successful Annual events such as, the New South Bronx Halloween
Parade, and Rebirth of Hunts Point Summer Festival which promote community pride
and solidarity. The Director of Social Services administers the programs and
currently supervises nine full-time and two part-time community developers.
Outreach is
conducted through posting of flyers, home visits, phone calls and tenant
association meetings. Referrals are made to the dozen of private and government
agencies with which SEBCO has established contacts and relationships.
“Achieve Now” Computer Training and Work Readiness
SEBCO provides specialized assistance in the community by
focusing on the unemployed and welfare recipients, providing them with job
readiness training and computer literacy skills. Achieve Now has three goals:
(1) to provide job readiness skills to public assistance recipients and the
unemployed; (2) to provide computer literacy skills; and (3) to create access to
employment possibilities. Presently, SEBCO facilitates three cycles of
fifteen participants in each cycle.
Our latest program
involving the Computer Learning Center involves conducting computer classes in
Spanish. The software programs are identical but our instructor conducts the
class in Spanish. The actual programs are in English so that the
Spanish-speaking clients have to master enough English to learn the various
sections and acquire computer literacy.
Service
Coordinators in Section 202 Senior Buildings
The seven service coordinators provide housing and social services to
approximately 700 senior residents in eight senior buildings. The service coordinators provide special
educational and recreational programs as well as individual case assistance and
counseling. Each service coordinator prepares and submits a monthly report log
to HUD that documents the residents served, services provided and number of
hours contributed.
Seneca/Freeman Centers
In 1992, SEBCO
entered into a contract with the New York City Human Resource Administration for
the operation of two “Tier II” transitional housing facilities in the South
Bronx. A full range of social and rehabilitation services are provided,
including client intake and assessment, job placement, life skills, child care,
client stabilization, outside referral, permanent housing placement and
counseling. The following personnel are supervised by an executive director of
the two facilities: a deputy director, two administrative assistants, a
receptionist, a social director, six caseworkers, two recreation workers, one
director of childcare, four childcare workers and six maintenance workers.
Senior
Center
In 1992, SEBCO
received a designation from the New York City Department for the Aging to
provide hot lunches and supportive services to the local senior and provides a
wide variety of supportive services including transportation, counseling,
outside referrals, group activities, seminars, etc. The Center is administered
by a director who supervises seven additional employees (bookkeeper, secretary,
case aide, kitchen aide, driver and two site managers) and four volunteers.
Membership to the flyers, referrals from other agencies, recruitment campaigns
in the community and word of mouth. If a member requires a service, which is
unavailable at the Center, our staff refers the member to the appropriate
resources in the community and the borough. |