Q&A
Update on food stamps and cash assistance backlog clearance
0:51:15
·
101 sec
Council Member Restler asks for an update on the clearance of food stamps and cash assistance case backlogs, which was previously announced. Administrator French confirms that the backlog clearance has been maintained despite high ongoing demand.
- HRA continues to focus on hiring and retaining staff to manage high volumes
- The agency is implementing process efficiencies to improve service delivery
- Monthly tracking is in place to ensure backlog clearance is maintained while meeting increased community demand
Lincoln Restler
0:51:15
Well, I certainly think when we have successful workforce development models that are reaching nitrogen tenants and connecting them to good jobs, we've gotta maximize them.
0:51:26
And this is one that works.
0:51:28
There are other present training academies that I also am a big fan of, that I just think we should be pumping a whole lot more resources in because that's where they're needed.
0:51:39
Several months ago, DSS celebrated kind of clearing of the backlog of food stamps and cache assistant cases, was all very good news.
0:51:50
Could you just give us a status update?
0:51:51
Have we maintained that clearance of the backlog or has a backlog grown since that announcement?
0:51:58
I think it was May or June.
0:51:59
I don't recall exactly when the Mayor did it.
Scott French
0:52:02
We continue to maintain on a monthly basis.
0:52:05
Right?
0:52:05
We still are experiencing very high volumes, which speaks to the need that's existing, right, in the communities.
0:52:11
But like we did to eradicating the backlog, we continue to focus on the different pillars that we were working on then.
0:52:18
So hiring, right, we are primarily we are very much focused on making sure that we are replacing staff as they leave so that we can retain the hiring progress that we made over the last year where we brought on a 1000 new staff Additionally, we continue to look at different ways in which there are efficiencies in the process that we can implement both on our own or in partnership with OTDA to make the process 1st and foremost easier for individuals coming to us looking for help in support, but also from a processing point of view, minimizing those.
0:52:48
So we track it on a monthly basis to make sure that we remain on track while meeting the increased demand that is still out there in the community.