Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi has announced a new county hotline to service families and individuals seeking homeless relief during the cold winter months. The new one-stop "Warm Line", 1-866-WARM-BED, will operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and run through the 31st of March. The Nassau County Department of Health and Human Services and the Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs collaborated to create this single point of entry system into the County's Human Services system.

"A year ago a family could spend one or two nights stuck outside during the middle of winter just because an operator couldn't connect them to the right county office in Mineola. Now we have system where there is no wrong door and where people will be connected immediately to the person who can help them get exactly what they need", said County Executive Suozzi.

Operators for the hotline will direct callers to the appropriate departments and services for their individual situations, eliminating much of the confusion and duplication that plagued the system in place from the previous administration. The new single point of entry system is the brainchild of the County Executive's Homeless Taskforce, created in October of 2002. Section 8 employees in the Office of Housing and Intergovernmental Affairs will answer all calls to the hotline. During business hours calls will be referred to the Department of Social Services for appropriate services. However, between the hours of 5PM and 9AM, Section 8 employees will make appropriate referrals and provide shelter placement.

This new service is being provided at no additional cost to the county.

"The more I look at the problems in our county, the more I believe that it is not resources we lack, but only simple organization", said County Executive Suozzi.

The hotline is the first step towards achieving the Homeless Task Force's goal of establishing wrap around services for the homeless. In-shelter services, discharge planning, medical services, and on going support services are the primary components being developed. If winter conditions persist beyond March 31st the program will continue until better weather arrives.