Officials unveil new benefits access center in Coney Island

The new facility will be fully up and running by Aug. 29.

News 12 Staff

Aug 4, 2022, 9:57 PM

Updated 841 days ago

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City officials and community partners unveiled a new benefits center Thursday on Mermaid Avenue and West 19th Street in Coney Island.
Residents will be able to access a wide range of services offered by the Department of Social Services and the Human Resource Administration, including cash assistance, SNAP benefits, Medicaid and IDNYC programs.
"As part of our commitment to this community, we are consolidating and modernizing the delivery and services that we have been offering throughout Coney Island," says Lisa Fitzpatrick, administrator of HRA.
The new facility spans across two floors. The Coney Island SNAP Center on West Eighth Street and the Job Center and Medicaid office on West 21st Street will close down on Aug. 12 and reopen in the new location the following week.
Officials also announced that all job centers across the city will get a new name. They will now be called the Benefits Access Center.
Department of Social Services Commissioner Gary Jenkins says the previous name was a mischaracterization because there's more than just work services.
The new facility will be fully up and running by Aug. 29.