The Community Service Society

The Community Service Society (CSS) is a 160 year old institution that has been on the cutting edge of public policy innovations to support poor New Yorkers in their quest to be full participants in the civic life of the nation’s largest city.

Our primary focus is on the value of good-wage jobs and work supports to stimulate social and economic mobility among the working poor. Throughout our history we have embraced the idea that policy solutions grounded in research and informed by real life experiences inspires legislative remedies, volunteerism, and direct service models that bring assistance to populations in need. We continue to invest in that vision through five streams of activity:

• Research to identify underlying causes and stimuli of poverty
• Advocacy at all levels of government on behalf of low income New Yorkers
• Direct service to individuals and institutions in poor communities
• Technical support to service providers
• Volunteerism to strengthen community life
• Strategic partnerships with public and private sector leadership

For more information on both the Community Service Society and the Center for Benefits and Services please visit CSS’s website.

The Center for Benefits and Services

The Center for Benefits and Services, which publishes Benefits Plus, is a department of the Community Service Society of New York. The Center for Benefits and Services (CBS) addresses the need for removing barriers to employment for low-wage families and individuals living in New York City. We accomplish this through providing comprehensive technical assistance to community based organizations, as well as direct services to families and individuals.

Through our Technical Assistance component, CBS offers trainings and publications on public benefit programs and publicly subsidized housing to social service professionals serving low income families in New York City. Benefits Plus is one of our most popular publications.

Through our Services to Families and Individuals component, CBS provides information and assistance to families and individuals seeking help with accessing or maintaining public benefit programs and publicly subsidized housing through our partnership project.