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1. Workers at the emergency assistance unit are requiring court papers before they will help with an eviction. Are workers aware that this is not a prerequisite for assistance?
   Court papers are not required in the event of an eviction. A letter written by the landlord is enough. If any clients are told that court papers are required, contact Joe Cuglar 858-6124 or Tom Rusiniak 858-8883.
    
2. Are written denials being issued, as required by the recent FH decision, when an applicant fails to go to orientation?
   It was acknowledged that these denials are to be given and DSS will be doing so.
    
3. Are emergency housing workers aware that DSS can, under certain circumstances, replace lost or stolen SSI checks?
   DSS does replace lost and stolen SSI checks; it must first be reported to Social Security.
    
4. Are workers at emergency housing required to answer telephones?
   DSS-EH workers are required to check phones a minimum of once per day. It is legal for clients to apply for Emergency Assistance over the phone.
    
5. What is your policy when someone at the Erie County Work Center applies and does not speak English? How many times in last several months have you utilized a translator?
   Legally, DSS must have someone there, but there is a lack of resources and it is difficult when someone presents themselves with out an appointment. DSS needs to assist and call International Institute for a translator. No one should be denied because they are not able to understand English.
    
6. Many homeless clients who are placed at motels are not given a restaurant allowance. What is the process that you use to ensure that eligible client receive this allowance?
   If they are actively on PA, the PA worker should adjust the budget. If not active, the emergency housing worker is to apply. A memo has been issued by Joe Cuglar to reinforce this policy. It should take 5 days for the restaurant allowance to process but it should be retroactive to date applied. All budgetable income that the client receives is taken into account. If the client has no income, a referral is given for a food pantry.
    
7. Are the homeless clients placed in motels in the suburbs provided tokens?
   DSS will provide tokens for those in the suburbs. DSS did loose their contract with Red Roof Inn located in Amherst. Clients have been placed in Super 8 in Amherst. The Buffalo Tourist Lodge is used as list resort for single men.
    
8. What is the emergency assistance unit's policy concerning denials at the window? Do only trained welfare examiners make these determinations?
   Only trained welfare examiners make the decisions regarding denials.

Follow-up issues:

1. Temporary Assistance case does not have to be open in order to get Security Deposit assistance form Emergency Housing.
    
2. When clients presents as homeless at Emergency Housing all shelters are/should be called before hotel placement.
    
3. Penny Selmonsky passed out a list of emergency shelters to given to Emergency Housing workers. A rental guideline chart was also presented; it is a work in progress. Please contact Penny at 847-0655 to make suggestions or for copies of either document.
    
4. The initial security deposit from DSS should never be recouped.