The Erie County Department of Social Services (“ECDSS”) is piloting extended hours on Thursdays at their 158 Pearl Street location. Beginning March 22, 2018 and continuing for six weeks, ECDSS staff will be on site until 6:00 PM to assist clients in applying for SNAP and Temporary Assistance. The public is encouraged to arrive by 5:45 PM for assistance. The hours are extended past the routine closing time of 4 PM. 

“We recognize that our clients often have commitments to work and family during normal work hours,” said Acting Commissioner Marie Cannon. “This pilot will allow us to be more responsive to our clients’ needs. Client response to this pilot will determine whether or not we continue extended hours past the initial pilot period of six weeks. ”

Extended-hour services will include: general information about ECDSS services, obtaining benefit cards, dropping off or picking up paperwork, reporting changes in case circumstances to the agency, filing applications for Temporary Assistance and SNAP benefits, screening for expedited SNAP benefits, and (if eligible) on-the-spot SNAP interviews. Medicaid services are not included in this initial pilot.

The goal of the pilot is to expand access to ECDSS services, especially for working individuals and families. To assess the ongoing needs and effectiveness of the extended-hours pilot, the number of clients will be tracked and clients will be asked to complete a short customer satisfaction survey to determine the overall utility of the initiative.

Please direct questions to Brian Bray, Special Assistant to the Commissioner, ECDSS at (716) 858-8924  or via email at Brian.Bray@erie.gov .

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