November 27, 2012

MANGANO ANNOUNCES EMERGENCY WINTER SHELTER FOR HOMELESS RESIDENTS

Warm Bed Hotline Activated Today

Mineola, NY - With a wintery mix over the region, Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano today activated Nassau’s Warm Bed homeless program which providing shelter relief to individuals and families during cold winter months. The Nassau County Warm Bed Hotline, 1-866-WARM-BED (1-866-927-6233), will operate 7 days a week and run through March 31, 2013. If winter conditions persist beyond March 31st, the program will continue until warmer weather arrives.

“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 place to stay right away,” said County Executive Mangano. “Homeless residents calling the hotline will be connected to a person who can help them get out of the cold and get the services they need to restart their lives. Help is really just a phone call away.”

During business hours, calls will be referred to the Department of Social Services for appropriate services. However, between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., employees from Warm Bed and the Department of Social Services (DSS) will make appropriate referrals and provide shelter placement. Once placed, staff at the Department of Social Services and the Office of Housing & Community Development will reach out to those who are homeless in order to access resources for permanent housing.

NASSAU COUNTY HOMELESS HOTLINE (WARM BED):
1-866-927-6233 (1-866-WARM-BED)

EMERGENCY NUMBERS:
Department of Social Services (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
Nassau University Medical Center (516) 572-0123