COMMUNITY-BASED PROGRAMS

Services for a Meaningful Life

Our skilled social workers are always ready, every step-of-the way. More than 25,000 people rely on us every year as we help them live a good life with dignity. Click here to view our locations.

WHY CHOOSE SELFHELP

We’re on a mission to help older adults and vulnerable populations live with independence and dignity.
Social workers at every one of our programs can help individuals who qualify to access financial assistance, entitlements, and benefits.
Our wide range of programs support older adults at every stage of life.
With a Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) care model, we are experts at serving vulnerable older adultss including immigrants, those who are formerly homeless, non-native English speakers, those who are homebound or isolated, and the frail elderly.

Meet Ms. Lau, a client of Selfhelp’s Queens North Queens Management Program. With her husband very ill and her worries mounting, Ms. Lau is so appreciative of the assistance and care she receives from Selfhelp.

WE ARE HERE TO HELP

Have a question about our Community-Based Programs or want to know if you or your loved one are qualified for our programs? Write us a message and we’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

You can also call us at 212-947-8701.

SHASAM (Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model)

Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM) is a comprehensive set of supports appropriate for different stages in the aging process and are available to residents, if and when chosen and requested, throughout their tenancy. The model grew out of Selfhelp’s eight decades of experience working with older adults.

SHASAM supports include:

A culturally competent social worker in each building
Assistance and advocacy for entitlements and benefits
Educational and recreational programming
Health and wellness programming
Physical activity
Social events (in-person and virtual)
Aging services technology
Volunteer opportunities
Referrals to partners for home-delivered meals, home care, subsidized housekeeping, mental health, case management
and more

Selfhelp owns and operates 17 affordable senior apartment buildings in Queens, the Bronx, Brooklyn, Nassau, and Suffolk Counties that provides housing plus SHASAM services to over 1,500 New Yorkers. SHASAM is provided in additional buildings in New York City. Click here to learn more about Selfhelp Realty Group.

Addressing Social Determinants of Health

There is a growing focus on the ways “the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age” affect their long-term health. Economic and social conditions – the “social determinants of health” – can make a substantial impact on the physical health of individuals.

The SHASAM model directly addresses the 5 social determinants of health that are most important for older adults:

Economic stability
Neighborhood and physical environment
Food
Community and social context
Connection to healthcare

Research

Selfhelp received funding from the JPMorgan Chase Foundation to conduct a retrospective, three-year evaluation of the hospitalization rates, emergency department use, and cost of care for residents of six Selfhelp buildings in Queens, New York, compared to other older adults living in the same zip codes. The data was clear about the positive impact of SHASAM:

68% lower odds of being hospitalized
A Medicaid system savings of $3,937 per resident
53% lower odds of visiting an emergency room compared to a non-Selfhelp resident
SHASAM residents with chronic diseases were 43% less likely to be hospitalized than non-residents
The cost of hospitalizations for residents with chronic diseases was half as much for SHASAM residents

Read more and download Healthy Housing: An Evaluation of Selfhelp Active Services for Aging Model (SHASAM)

Case Management

Selfhelp’s comprehensive case management programs help seniors through a collaborative process of assessment, planning, facilitation, care coordination, evaluation, advocacy, and referrals. Expert social workers provide assistance in accessing entitlements and benefits, as well as financial assistance, home delivered meals and home care services. The goal is to enable vulnerable seniors to continue to live independently in their own homes.

Our case management programs include:

Queens North – 718-321-8194

Serves homebound seniors, age 60 or older, in Community District 7 in Northern Queens. It is located at 45-25 Kissena Boulevard. Funded by the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging).

Project Pilot – 212-787-8106

Serves homebound seniors, age 60 or older, living in Community Districts 4 and 7 on the west side of Manhattan, between W 14th and W 110th Streets. It is located at 520 8th Avenue.Funded by the New York City Department for the Aging (NYC Aging).

Safety Net Program – (347) 289-8408 and safetynet@selfhelp.net

Safety Net Case Management program provides a much-needed service to older and vulnerable New Yorkers who may not qualify for NYC Aging-funded case management services. Safety Net does not have income restrictions and is able to support people who do not qualify for Medicaid. Our case workers offer assistance with housing (including housing waitlist applications, SCRIE and DRIE applications and recertifications, Section 8, and ERAP), financial assistance, and referrals for legal help, mental health services, citizenship assistance, and home repairs. Safety Net leverages hundreds of thousands of dollars in benefits related to food stamps, housing, immigration, Social Security, and emergency financial assistance for their clients. Services include advocacy, in-home assessment, legal assistance, citizenship application assistance, financial assistance, referrals for mental health, and more. Funded by UJA-Federation of New York, NY SOFA, & NYC Council, serves adults with disabilities of all ages and all older adults living in select zip codes in Brooklyn, Queens, and Manhattan.

Friendly Visiting through Selfhelp Queens North

Friendly Visiting Program matches homebound older adults with volunteers in their community (Northern Queens Community District 7) who make weekly in-person, phone, and video visits. Friendly visiting is an enriching opportunity for volunteers to develop meaningful friendships, either through 1-on-1 matches or group chats. Together, the older adult and volunteer discuss shared interests, learn/teach new skills, and celebrate special holidays. Your time and companionship as a friendly visitor is invaluable!

Volunteer Requirements:

• Weekly visits (in-person, phone, and/or video)

• Commitment to program for at least 6 months

• Interview, training, and background check

• Must be at least 18+ years and older

• In-person visits are located in Northern Queens area: Flushing, College Point, Whitestone or Bayside, Queens

• In-person volunteers must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination

Contact us to volunteer: friendlyvisiting@selfhelp.net or (718) 321-8194

Click here to apply online