Public Social Service Offices Return To Normal Hours July 1

Press release from the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services:

June 29, 2021

Social service offices that offer access to food, housing and health services are returning to normal business hours Thursday (July 1) to serve Riverside County residents in the post-pandemic recovery.

Most lobbies will re-open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The hours of public access had been temporarily reduced to curtail the spread of COVID-19. Economic disruptions from the global health crisis exposed the vulnerabilities of many Riverside County families and individuals.
Last year, DPSS provided one million people with access to health and human services in the nation’s tenth most populous county. At the height of the pandemic, Riverside County saw a 20% increase in customers.

Many who were struggling before and during the pandemic will need continued support through programs such as job training and assistance with food, housing, child care and health benefits that DPSS offers, according to Allison Gonzalez, assistant director of Self Sufficiency Services in Riverside County.

“We are pleased to welcome our communities back and are here to provide assistance to help people get on their feet,” Gonzalez said. “Our hope is to see individuals and communities emerge from the pandemic stronger and more resilient than before.”

As onsite locations return to pre-pandemic hours, Gonzalez and others continue to encourage customers and applicants to access services by internet or phone and to schedule an appointment when possible.

Apply for and manage food, cash and health benefits 24 hours a day on Fully vaccinated visitors and DPSS employees are not required to wear facial coverings inside DPSS offices but facial coverings are encouraged. Public health safeguards, including screening questions, hand sanitizer stations and plexiglass shields at counters have been installed.

For all office locations please visit http://dpss.co.riverside.ca.us/office-locations.

DPSS has been serving Riverside County since 1923, when the department’s first two employees began helping to meet local needs. Today, the department is more than 4,000 employees strong, serving one million residents a year in the nation’s tenth most populous county.

This press release was produced by the Riverside County Department of Public Social Services. The views expressed here are the author's own.