Wellness and Support Services

SUNY Schenectady's Wellness and Support Services includes the Disability Resource Office, the Resource Hub, supportive counseling, and the Food Pantry. All of our programs are designed to facilitate personal and academic success. They are founded on a model that regards wellness as an active process which includes the self-awareness and choices one makes when interacting with the world on the quest towards a meaningful and successful life.

Helpful Community Resources

Listing does not imply endorsement. 

Each county in New York has a Department of Social Services (DSS) that provides an array of programs to meet its residents’ social and financial needs – especially the needs of low-income residents. Select programs of interest include:

  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) – a federally funded energy assistance
    program. 
  • Child Care Assistance – Low income day care for families at up to 200% of the
    Federal Poverty Level.
  • Family Assistance – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) provides cash
    assistance to eligible needy families that contain minor children under age 18 or
    under 19 if the oldest child is expected to complete secondary school or vocational
    training by the 19th birthday.
  • Emergency Assistance to Adults/Families (EAA/EAF) - available to Supplemental
    Security Income (SSI) recipients who face emergency situations which endanger
    their health, safety or welfare. Needs of EAF recipients could include financial help with eviction, homelessness, heating fuel, utility disconnects, domestic violence, and child care (day care or temporary foster care).
  • Food Insecurity – Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

2.1.1 Northeast Region, NY
The United Way’s 211 system helps people locate basic resources such as food, shelter, employment or healthcare. You can either dial 211 for assistance or use their online search tool to locate resources in Albany, Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Hamilton, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren and Washington counties.

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Albany
One of the largest, private, social service agencies in the region, serves the 13 counties of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany (Albany, Columbia, Delaware, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Otsego, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Warren, and Washington Counties) and a portion of southern Herkimer County. Programs of note include:

  • Care Coordination Services – Serve people living with HIV, those with chronic behavioral and physical health conditions, drug users, homeless individuals, and others in need of non-judgmental person-centered care.
  • Tri-County Services – This agency coordinates an array of essential basic needs and youth services in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties.

NOTE: A complete list of local pantries are posted at the on-campus Food Pantry

Bethesda House
Daily Meal and Food Pantry
834 State Street, Schenectady, NY

Focus Churches of Albany
Breakfast Club and Food Pantry
275 State Street, Albany, NY

Nutrition Outreach Education Program (NOEP) at Catholic Charities
1462 Erie Boulevard, Schenectady, NY

The Salvation Army of Schenectady County
Community Meals and Food Pantry
222 Lafayette Street, Schenectady, NY

Sycamore Collaborative
Food Pantry for Schenectady County residents
839 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY

Capital District Childcare Coordinating Council - Childcare Directory
Helps families find a child care provider and approves friends/relatives for child care assistance

Schenectady Community Action Program (SCAP)
For ages birth to five years

SUNY Schenectady Integrated Laboratory Preschool
For ages three to four years

YWCA Early Learning Centers
For ages six-weeks to five years 

CARES of NY
A non-profit organization that empowers communities to end homelessness through community planning, program data, supportive housing, and awareness-building.

Catholic Charities Housing Office
43 North Main, Albany, NY 

CDPHP Care Manager Homeless Services Referral Guide

City Mission of Schenectady
Family Life Center (for women and children)
311 Clinton Street Schenectady, NY
Men’s Center
427 Hamilton Street Schenectady, NY 

Family Promise of the Capital Region
738 New Scotland Avenue, Albany, NY

Homeless and Travelers Aid Society

Interfaith Partnership for the Homeless (IPH)
176 Sheridan Ave., Albany, NY

Joseph’s House and Shelter
74 Ferry Street, Troy, NY

Schenectady Community Action Program
913 Albany Street, Schenectady, NY

Veterans and Community Housing Coalition (VCHC)
20 Prospect Street, #313, Ballston Spa, NY

YMCA of Schenectady (men only)
845 Broadway, Schenectady, NY

YWCA of Schenectady (women only)
44 Washington Ave., Schenectady, NY 

National Domestic Violence 24 Hour Hotline
800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) National Deaf Hotline Videophone 9 a.m.-5 p.m. M-F,  1-855-812-1001 or deafhelp@thehotline.org

New York State Coalition Against Domestic Violence (NYSCADV) – Program Directory

Schenectady County

Albany County

Fulton & Montgomery Counties

Rensselaer County

  • Unity House
    24-Hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 518-272-2370

Saratoga County

Capital Behavioral Health Network - Coordinated Opioid and Stimulant Treatment

Catholic Charities/Project Safe Point

Conifer Park

Equinox

HFM Prevention Council
The mission of the HFM Prevention Council is to increase the health and wellness in Hamilton, Fulton and Montgomery Counties by preventing and reducing addiction disorders through education, recovery supports, supportive housing and community outreach.

Hometown Health - Behavioral Health

New Choices Recovery Center

Schenectady County Office of Community Services Project Safe Point

St. Peter’s Addiction Recovery Center

American Lung Association - Join Freedom from Smoking®

NYS Smoker's Quitline offers several free benefits including a quit-line coach, free nicotine replacement, and local resources.

Smokefree.gov is supported through the National Institutes of Health and has many resources including online support groups.

In addition to books and other media, public libraries offer an array of educational programs and services for children, youth and adults.