Erie County Re-Entry Task Force
The Erie County Reentry Task Force is a collaboration of
service providers, housing providers, government and private agencies, working
together to assess the existing services for individuals re-entering society
and to encourage the collaboration of service providers to improve services
and increase effectiveness. Rev. Terry King and Alyssa George of SGM serve as
co-chairs of the Task Force’s housing sub-committee. The sub-committee, along
with the Task Force’s Employment Sub-committee, sponsored an informational
conference in June to encourage local
housing providers to rent to parolees and other ex-offenders.
Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. is a Signature Member of the Erie
County Reentry Task Force. Membership on this task force represents
recognition on the part of local government, community organizations, and
service providers that SGM provides a much needed valuable service to the
parolee population in Erie County. Through ongoing collaboration and
cooperative efforts with other signature agencies, SGM has been a passionate
voice for ongoing improvement of service provision to parolees.
Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. works with the ECRETF to create
housing opportunities for ex-offenders and parolees serviced by the ECRETF
"Housing sub-committee". SGM was also awarded an Erie County Reentry
enhancement grant to provide congregate care housing and scattered site housing
opportunities for parolees serviced by the ECRETF.
Enhancement Grant Funding from Division of Criminal Justice Services
SGM has been awarded a contract by Erie County Department of
Mental Health in conjunction
with the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), to provide
scattered-site
and congregate care housing and services to 20 and 8 individuals, respectively.
Funding from
this award provides an additional case manager to oversee client engagement in
the community
and will also assist program clients in paying a security deposit, first month’s
rent and securing
basic furnishings when moving into a scattered-site apartment. The addition of
this case manager
will allow higher-functioning parolees to reside at various locations in the
City of Buffalo,
gaining independence and being held accountable for ongoing compliance with
parole release
conditions, while providing oversight and ongoing case management and
assistance.
HUD-City of Buffalo
Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. has been a contractor under the
City of Buffalo’s Emergency Shelter Grant program since 2003. Under the ESG
Program, SGM, Inc. receives contract funding for provision of emergency shelter
services to homeless adult males in the City of Buffalo. SGM, Inc. serves over
400 clients per year in the ESG program.
NYS Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA)
Saving Grace Ministries, Inc. has been a contract partner to
NYS OTDA since 2006, operating four current contracts to provide case
management, housing, and program services to homeless individuals. The Single
Room Occupancy program provides services to homeless adult clients, including
life skills training, food, clothing, assistance locating permanent housing and
employment, and other needed services. The Supportive Housing for Families and
Young Adults (SHFYA) program provides these same services to the young adult
population (those ages 18 to 25), as well as pregnancy prevention and
responsible parenting life skills courses. The Homelessness and Supplemental
Homelessness Intervention Program (HIP/SHIP) provides housing location
assistance, aftercare follow-up, and supplemental supportive services to assist
program graduates in maintaining long-term stable housing.
NYS Division of Parole
SGM, Inc. has been a contract partner to the Division of
Parole since 2005, providing services under two separate contracts. SGM, Inc.
provides housing, stabilization services, case management, and oversight to
clients under both contracts. The agency receives all of its referrals directly
from Parole.
City of Buffalo HPRP
SGM, Inc. began partnering with the City of Buffalo’s
Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP) in 2009, a contract
funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus funds).
Under HPRP, SGM, Inc. provides intake, assessment, and case management services
to homeless and at-risk clients in the City of Buffalo, completing initial
assessments and eligibility reviews and providing long-term case management for
clients to achieve housing stability.
