Nassau homeless program activates today

The Nassau County’s Emergency Shelter Relief Program for homeless individuals and families will be activated today at 6 p.m.

“No resident should have to spend nights in the freezing cold when they can call the Nassau County Hotline and be placed in a warm shelter right away,” County Executive Edward Mangano said. “Homeless residents calling the hotline will be connected immediately to a person who can help them get out of the cold and obtain the services they need to restart their lives. Help is really just a phone call away.”

The winter Homeless Hotline, WARMBED, will operate daily through March 31, or longer, if necessary, said county officials.
Between 6 p.m. and 8 a.m. Monday through Thursday, and Friday from 6 p.m. through Monday at 8 a.m., employees from WARMBED and the Department of Social Services will make referrals and provide shelter placement. Once placed, staff at DSS and the Office of Housing & Community Development will try to access resources for permanent housing for the homeless.

Mangano said homeless veterans placed can be assisted by the Nassau County Veterans Services Agency.

The Homeless Hotline is 866-927-6233.

Other emergency numbers are: DSS 516-227-8519, after -office hours 516-573-8626; Long Island Crisis Counseling & Referral Center Hotline 516-679-1111; Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence Hotline 516-542-0404, and Nassau University Medical Center 516-572-0123.