Homecrest’s Sunset Park branch turns one

Free ice cream for the kids and the chance to win moon cakes and other prizes drew crowds to the one-year anniversary celebration of Homecrest Community Services’ Sunset Park branch, held in mid-September, on the corner of Ninth Avenue and 60th Street. Elected officials including Senator Steve Chan, Assemblymember Lester Chang, and Community Board 7 Chair Julio Peña III were there to shake hands and present proclamations.

But the quiet work of helping people continued inside the modest office, with case managers on site to answer questions and provide one-on-one help to attendees.

“Everything we do here is free, and we don’t just send people away once the paperwork is filled out,” said Communications Director Hao Dian Li. “We follow up, we call, we make sure the application actually goes through. For something like SNAP, we’ll check in a month later if we haven’t heard back, so our clients know they’re not forgotten. That’s what people value — that we respect their time, keep their information safe, and walk with them through the process.”

In addition to helping with SNAP benefits, since opening last September the center has helped thousands of Sunset Park residents with cases ranging from housing and cash assistance to naturalization paperwork and letter translations.

Clients are primarily older Chinese immigrants, though the center also serves Sunset Park’s large Latino community and other immigrant groups. Many clients express concerns about safety, digital fraud targeting benefits cards, and the rising cost of living. Li noted one senior “said she receives food stamps and still can’t cover her expenses because of inflation. She asked for cash assistance for the first time.”

For longtime resident Mr. Wu, 73, the Sunset Park branch has become indispensable. After recently becoming a U.S. citizen, he came to the center for guidance on navigating Social Security and immigration paperwork.

“Having a center right here in the neighborhood is very convenient,” Wu said. “It helps people apply for benefits, take care of practical things, and not feel lost. I tell my neighbors all the time that they should come here when they need help, because there are people who will really sit down with you.”

Living nearby on Ninth Avenue, Wu added that the center’s presence has brought peace of mind to many in the Chinese community.

Across its four centers citywide, Homecrest has served more than 17,000 cases this year. Leaders say the next step is addressing the demand for more senior centers in Sunset Park, where seniors can gather and connect.

“We hear every day that seniors want a place to belong,” Li said. “That’s a need we hope to meet in the years ahead.”