FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 18, 2008
New York State Commissioner
David Hansell will Discuss Access to Social Services
in January 27 Dialogue at Hudson Valley LGBTQ Center
As Top Official for Temporary and Disability
Assistance, Hansell Pledges Equal Treatment,
Benefits for New York's LGBTQ Community
KINGSTON, NY (Jan. 18) David Hansell, New York State Commissioner of the Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, will participate in a dialogue with members of the LGBTQ community. The event will focus on ways in which LGBTQ people can be guaranteed fair and equal access to the benefits administered by Hansell's office.
This meeting will take place on Sunday, January 27 at The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center, 300 Wall Street in historic Uptown Kingston. This event will run from 2:30-4:30pm. It is free of charge and open to the public.
The meeting with Commissioner Hansell is sponsored by the Center and is an outreach of CenterSAGE, a Center program dedicated to the needs of senior LGBTQ people.
"I am delighted to visit the Mid-Hudson Valley and to speak at The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center," Commissioner Hansell said. "My commitment, and Governor Spitzer's, is to ensure that the LGBTQ community is fully integrated into all of New York State's programs and activities. Hearing directly from members of that community will help me to ensure that OTDA does everything we can to meet the economic security needs of LGBTQ individuals in the mid-Hudson region, particularly those who are more vulnerable."
"The Center and the LGBTQ community welcome Commissioner Hansell and we look forward to a meaningful exchange of thoughts and ideas that will prove mutually beneficial," said Ginny Apuzzo, president of the Center's Board of Directors. "While the LGBTQ community remains traditionally under-served by city, state and federal social service agencies, meetings like this will allow the community to have an effect on the decisions that affect their lives."
The Center meeting with Commissioner Hansell is the second in an ongoing series of meetings between the LGBTQ community of the Mid-Hudson Valley and key city and state officials. A previous meeting at the Center with Ulster County Social Services Commissioner Roberto Rodriguez occurred this past November 26.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center was founded in 2005 to support and nurture the LGBTQ community in the Hudson Valley. Since that time, the Center has attracted more than 1,100 dues-paying members and is creating programs to empower the LGBTQ community to achieve their maximum potential. LGBTQ refers to the sexual orientation and/or gender identity of the community served: lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer people.
The Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) is responsible for supervising programs that provide assistance and support to eligible families and individuals. OTDA's functions include: Providing temporary cash assistance; providing assistance in paying for food; providing heating assistance; overseeing New York State's child support enforcement program; determining certain aspects of eligibility for Social Security Disability benefits; supervising homeless housing and services programs; and providing assistance to certain immigrant populations.
This event is free, but space is limited.
ATTENTION MEDIA: Reporters on assignment are welcome to cover this event.
The Hudson Valley LGBTQ Community Center is working to build tomorrows infinitely safer, saner and healthier than our yesterdays. Learn more at http://lgbtqcenter.org/.