Avoiding the worst in times of need

MILLERTON — Anyone traveling Century Boulevard in Millerton late last week was given a reminder that the Harlem Valley is not safe from the harsh economic times. The scene was set in black and white as a renter’s property was covered with a bright blue tarp, tucked against the side of the road after being evicted from a local apartment.

Evictions are uncommon in Millerton and the immediate surrounding areas, but nevertheless they are on the rise in the last few months, according to those who provide social services to assist residents in need.

“So far, we’ve mostly been seeing people [coming in for help] from Poughkeepsie, Pleasant Valley and Hyde Park,†said Rosemary Grabowfka, who works for Dutchess Outreach. “But we have been getting trickles [from the areas of Millerton, Amenia and Pine Plains], and it’s starting to increase.â€

“I’ve been hearing a lot of terrible stories,†acknowledged Jenny Hansell, executive director at the North East Community Center (NECC).

Evictions are certainly not something the village is accustomed to, but Mayor John Scutieri said he has been learning more and more about the process as a result of last week’s situation. There was some confusion as to who would be responsible for the property if it was not claimed by the tenants.

Sergeant Michael Sarigianis, who works in the Civil Department with the Dutchess County Sheriff’s Office, explained that the tenant was allowed “a reasonable amount of time†to claim his/her belongings. Though ambiguous, that amounted to an undefined period of time that Sarigianis said was based on a common sense approach.

The village eventually paid to have the property, which included a television, boxes of personal belongings and mattresses, disposed of last Friday afternoon, three days after the Tuesday eviction. The bill will be sent to the landlord, per state law.

It’s always smart to know where to turn for help in times of need: family members, close friends and good neighbors are good places to start. But where does one turn when these are insufficient? Community organizations like the NECC are one answer; they understand that sometimes the individual has done all he or she can.

The community center offers many resources that can help out in a variety of ways, including financially.

“We have a few things we can help out with here,†says Hansell, “but the organizations [we work with] are much more comprehensive.â€

Local advocates from the Dutchess Community Action Partnership (DCAP) do outreach programs at NECC as well as at the Amenia Town Hall and in Pine Plains.

Mariella Ribbick stops by NECC every Monday and Thursday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the Amenia Town Hall every Tuesday and Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It’s in Pine Plains Mondays and Tuesdays at the Pine Plains United Methodist Church from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Through DCAP, residents can apply for financial assistance, social services, online food stamps and fuel assistance. For those without transportation, appointments can be made to drive people to social services to help improve their situation. DCAP employees can help fill out applications and representatives can apply on the applicant’s benefit.

Ribbick said that DCAP is able to help most of the people who come to the partnership in trouble, but some are very close to being out of time.

Dutchess Outreach, based out of Poughkeepsie, has two large services that provide outreach to county residents: food pantries and emergency financial assistance.

Money can be applied for to cover rent, utilities and even medical prescriptions. Applicants must present proof of eviction or shut-off notice from the electric company to qualify, and one of the stipulations of Dutchess Outreach is that the people coming for  help are doing their best to recover financially.

“They have to show us that they are coming to us as a last resort,†Grabowfka explained, “and that they will have funds in the future. If we are able to help, it will only be one time.â€

Even if individuals or families in need don’t qualify, Dutchess Outreach can still provide advocacy services through phone calls to Social Services, Red Cross and the Salvation Army, among others.

These are some of the programs and organizations that can give hope to the hopeless. An eviction in a small village like Millerton is a vivid  reminder that our local communities are not immune to the worst that these economic times have to offer.  To access the North East Community Center and any of its programs, go online to neccmillerton.org; its Web site has a resources link that can put you in touch with other organizations with similar goals. NECC can also be reached by phone, at 518-789-4259; it’s located at 51 South Center St., Millerton.