Family Services
Our family services offer essential programs and initiatives designed to address a wide array of challenges faced by individuals and families in need.
Greater New York Family Services Information
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Childcare
As the leading anti-poverty organization, The Salvation Army wants to eliminate barriers to employment. For families with young children, that can mean having access to safe, accessible childcare.
Children ages two through five can be enrolled in any of our five licensed childcare centers throughout the city. This service is free to low-income families.
The centers operate Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. They offer children two nutritious meals and snacks each day, along with educational activities including arts and crafts, music, and outdoor games.
Under the supervision of qualified childcare professionals, children graduate from the program ready to start kindergarten with an educational baseline equivalent to their peers.
If interested in learning more about the childcare program, please contact us at contactgny@use.sa lvationarmy.org, reach out to the Childcare Program Diector, Carmen Torres, directly at carmen.torres@use.salvationarmy.org, or fill out the contact form below and you will hear back from us soon!
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Pathway of Hope (PoH)
In 2023, The Salvation Army is implementing a new program in New York City called Pathway of Hope.
With success in other regions across the country, Pathway of Hope is an intensive case management program for families committed to breaking intergenerational cycles of poverty
through holistic lifestyle changes.The program is supported by social workers and pastoral care, and offers resources such as job coaching, financial management skills, GED preparedness, and daycare.
With proven results, we hope to expand Pathway of Hope to other parts of the Greater New York area.
If interested in learning more about Pathway of Hope, please contact Aloyce Simpson at aloyce.simpson@use.salvationarmy.org.
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Developmental Disabilities Services (DDS)
The Salvation Army operates 8 Developmental Disabilities (DDS) Homes in the Bronx, Queens, and Brooklyn, offering a sense of family in a supervised environment by professional trained staff. Residents are provided with development in:
- Independent Living Skills
- Physical, Speech, and Occupational Therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Recreation and Socialization
- Community Inclusion and Life Experiences
If interested in learning more about our Developmental Disabilities homes, please contact us at contactgny@use.salvationarmy.org.
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Essential Community Solutions (ECS)
In response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the 1980s, The Salvation Army opened its Essential Community Solutions Center, previously known as our HIV Health Home. At the Bronx center, we provide intensive medical case management and care coordination to meet the specific needs of New Yorkers suffering from HIV/AIDs, and as of 2012, expanding to other chronic health illnesses, including diabetes, asthma, hypertension, obesity, substance abuse, and mental health disorders.
Today, Essential Community Solution focuses on helping disenfranchised individuals and families in the community to work towards stability and improved health. We provide referrals to mental health and substance abuse services, support groups, nutrition and health education, legal assistance, housing assistance, financial counseling, emergency food, and travel assistance. Once clients develop independence in managing their needs they can graduate from the program and step down in services.
If interested in learning more about Essential Community Solutions, please reach out to Daniel Serrano at daniel.serrano@use.salvationarmy.org.
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Social Services Response Program (SSRP)
The Social Service Response Program (SSRP) is a mobile outreach team that engages with hundreds of vulnerable homeless individuals every year.
SSRP staff are trained to build trusted relationships with unhoused individuals. This connection increases the likelihood that people will accept information, referrals to services, or offers of shelter.
The outreach team distributes two days’ worth of non-perishable, nutrient-dense food to each person they encounter. They also provide Narcan kits when needed, clean socks, hygiene kits, and—during winter—scarves, gloves, hats, and coats.
Through our partnerships, we are able to offer unique services such as podiatry care, haircuts, and showers. Looking ahead, we hope to expand and address other known service gaps within this population.
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Opioid Overdose Prevention Program
The Salvation Army Greater New York’s Opioid Overdose Prevention Program (OOPP) addresses the devastating impact of the opioid crisis, which claims lives in New York every four hours.
The program provides education on opioid misuse, the dangers of substances like fentanyl, and how to recognize the signs of an overdose.
It also trains community members to respond effectively in emergencies, emphasizing the safe and simple use of NARCAN, a life-saving medication that can restore breathing within minutes.
As a certified distributor under the New York State Opioid Prevention Program, The Salvation Army supplies free NARCAN kits that include two doses of nasal spray, gloves, a protective face shield, and informational resources.
Kits are available at its headquarters and local centers, ensuring community members are prepared to intervene during critical moments.
By combining resources, training, and outreach, the OOPP empowers New Yorkers to save lives and reduce barriers to care while advancing the mission of meeting human need without discrimination.
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Music and Creative Arts
Music has been a significant part of The Salvation Army programming since our first band in 1878. Today, The Salvation Army considers music education a crucial part of fulfilling our mission. By providing free, engaging, student-oriented music education to youth, we provide children in under-served neighborhoods with the same opportunities as their wealthier peers.
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We are dedicated to serving those who need us the most."
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We are dedicated to serving those who need us the most.
The Salvation Army Family Services is a vital and compassionate network of programs and initiatives designed to address a wide spectrum of societal challenges and support individuals and families in need.
What sets The Salvation Army apart?
The Salvation Army's dedication to meeting immediate, pressing needs and providing individuals with the tools and resources necessary for long-term stability and personal growth. The Salvation Army's Family Services exemplify the values of compassion, empathy, and inclusivity, serving as a beacon of hope for those navigating challenging circumstances in their lives. We've also been doing this for more than a century.
Stats
302K+ nights
of safe, stable housing provided for men, women, and children
32 families
were enrolled and six graduated, from The Salvation Army's Pathway of Hope program -- a rigorous long-term case management program helping families break the cycle of intergenerational poverty
Hundreds helped
through our Social Service Response Program (SSRP) that does mobile outreaches across all five boroughs of New York City
Your donation provides safe housing, essential supplies, and a path to a brighter future.
You’ll help shelter men, women, and children in crisis, support survivors of human trafficking with hygiene kits and emergency aid, and empower families in our Pathway of Hope program to break the cycle of poverty through strong case management and long-term support.
Other Services
