Since then, more than 25,000 people from all backgrounds have found help and hope within its dignified doors. An array of services and support — from an online pantry to job training to English classes to legal assistance — are available under one roof to empower New Yorkers and help them break the cycle of poverty.
A client comes in after she’s been laid off from her job because of Covid-19. With her savings running low, she’s not sure how to pay the rent or put food on the table for her family. At the Silver Hub, she’ll first meet one on one with a caseworker. Based on her skills and interests, the caseworker will direct her to a job-training program in an in-demand field. The caseworker will also help her access emergency cash assistance so she can pay her utility bills. A financial counselor will talk to her about budgeting. A lawyer will meet with her to walk her through steps she can take to prevent eviction. At the Silver Hub's digital food pantry, she’ll choose food that makes sense for her family’s preferences and allergies. She might have walked into the Silver Hub feeling dejected, but she’s walking out with a plan, and just as important, a sense of hope.
As operators of the Hub, Commonpoint Queens is coordinating all of the resources available on-site to ensure that every client receives a package of services personalized to meet their unique needs. Their social workers are responsible for intake and mental health services, and their employment professionals are placing people in trainings and finding them jobs.
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG) is on-site providing critical financial and legal counseling.
Hebrew Free Loan society is on-site to provide access to interest-free loans.
Met Council is providing kosher food for the Hub’s on-site digital pantry, where clients can choose the foods that make the most sense for their families. Healthy choices are incentivized.
