Resources Available for Low-income Individuals Residing in Oswego County

Hello everyone! This is the second story I've written for my Advanced Newswriting and Reporting course. This story covers homelessness and poverty in Oswego County. It provides resources for free or low-cost food, shelter, or education around Oswego County for individuals experiencing poverty.

        Several free programs and organizations in Oswego County offer a range of support for homeless and low-income community members.         The poverty line is $15,060 for an individual income. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, around 25.4% of Oswego County residents live at or below the poverty line. There has also been a rapid increase in homelessness in Oswego County over the last couple of years.         “The total number of people requesting its services, 142 individuals or families are currently showing up as homeless,” reported the Oswego County Department of Social Services (DSS). “That makes a total of 824 people identifying as homeless and requesting DSS services so far this year.”         “The reason why homelessness is high in Oswego is because rent is high,” said Diane Cooper-Currier, the executive director at Oswego County Opportunities. Cooper-Currier points out that most workers in Oswego are service workers; people who work in retail, small businesses, and restaurants, often earning minimum wage. With rent prices increasing, many Oswego residents are either homeless or living paycheck to paycheck.         Oswego County Opportunities (OCO) has multiple resources to assist people living through financial hardship. One of the services the OCO offers is providing individuals with affordable temporary and permanent housing.         According to Cooper-Currier, homeless individuals and families can be eligible to live in designated apartments for 18 months free of charge. However, if individuals want to pay rent or utilities, they are encouraged to do so. This form of housing is designed to help people worry less about finding a place to sleep and focus more on things such as finding a job.         OCO is also a part of the County of Oswego Advocates Challenging Homelessness (COACH) organization, which is comprised of different organizations and community members that fight to end homelessness in Oswego.         Members of OCO and COACH go around Oswego to meet with homeless individuals, offering to take them to shelters and provide them with food. The OCO website also has a list of free food pantries, affordable pre-made dinners, and soup kitchens in Oswego County.         OCO also offers programs for children including after-school programs, Head Start, and Community Schooling. OCO also offers tutoring for adults in math and reading. The tutors help students prepare to “gain employment, improve their employment or pass the GED or high school equivalency exam,” according to their website.         The Oswego Public Library also offers GED orientation once a month for Oswego residents. The library offers a lot of free programs and resources for the community to interact with each other and find help for different issues.         According to the director of the Oswego Public Library, Luke Connor, one of the largest demographics at the library is parents and their children.         There are several programs for parents and children. The recurring events include Baby Bounce, Breastfeeding Cafe Support Group, and Storytime. The library also offers tutoring sessions for teens and young adults.         These programs are free to the community and offer support to mothers in Oswego. Though the number of people who attend these programs is small, “It’s not necessary about the number of people that attend,” said Connor, “but the impact that even a few people take away from it.”         While they do not have a dedicated program for building resumes and cover letters, the Librarians and clerks will offer assistance to those who ask, according to Connor.         Students at SUNY Oswego also have resources on campus for those struggling financially. Students can apply for the Emergency Fund by contacting a member of the dean of students. The Emergency Fund can be used for rent, utility bills, food, childcare, and medical expenses not covered by insurance.         SUNY Oswego also has a food and clothing pantry called SHOP, or Student Helping Oz Peers. This pantry provides students and staff with free “non-perishable food, toiletries, sexual and reproductive health products, and professional and winter apparel,” according to their website. Individuals wanting to help people living through homelessness can donate to local food banks, volunteer at soup kitchens, or donate directly to the OCO website.