Welcome to the City of Portsmouth's Department of Social Services homepage. DSS touches the lives of all citizens by providing programs and services that ensure the health and welfare of our citizens.
The department provides services to individuals and families that enable them to be the best they can be. Some of these services include foster care, adoption services, adult and child protective services, job assistance, food stamps, medical aid, and many others. We're here to help citizens lead productive, self-sufficient lives.
Awareness/Prevention Months
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
Portsmouth Department of Social Services. All Rights Reserved
1701 High Street Suite 101 Portsmouth, VA 23704
• Phone 757-405-1800
On-line Screening Tool
PDSS offers an on-line screening tool to help determine if you may be eligible for any of the services that we provide. Please understand that using this tool provides a preliminary screening only and does not imply actual eligibility. You must complete an application and be interviewed to receive a final determination.
Access online screening tool.
Programs & Services Offered:
- Benefit Programs/Assistance
TANIF
Food Stamps
Tax Relief
Energy Assistance
Medicaid
FAMIS
State and Local Hospitalization
General Relief
PDSS provides the following Services and Programs to assist Portsmouth citizens:
PDSS Volunteers to Assist with Income Tax
PDSS serves as a volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site. Professionally trained and IRS certified volunteers are on-hand to assist with tax preparations for taxpayers with income of $40,000 or less. Contact the agency for more information.
The City of Portsmouth's
Tax Relief for Elderly and Disabled
PDSS is accepting applications for the Tax Relief Program January 2, 2008 - April 30, 2008, 8 - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday (excluding holidays). This program either reduce or freeze the real estate tax liability for elderly and disabled homeowners.
View Information Sheet for more details.
Employee of the Month
Preston Rhem is employee of the month for the month of April.
Preston is a positive influence to FSET (Food Stamp Employment and Training) clients. He recognizes the inherent barriers that are associated with the homeless population in FSET and has served as a role model to many of his male clients.
Mr. Rhem seeks resources that will assist his clients in working through their barriers while they are trying to secure employment. He also prepares and shares information with the staff.
Recently, Mr. Rhem met with Oasis Opportunity Center and Career Services to gather information about their employment program for the homeless. He researched and presented information to ESP (Employment Services Program) about health care services
provided through Virginia Cares Uninsured Program. Both of these programs will provide vital resources for our clients, especially those in the FSET population. For the second consecutive year, Mr. Rhem has been instrumental in making the arrangements, registering the clients and providing transportation of male ESP participants to the African American Men’s Health Forum. Mr. Rhem
felt it imperative to provide the opportunity to clients because this may be
the only opportunity that many of them will have to receive health screening
and vital information.
- Child and Family Services
Foster Care
Adoption Services
Family & Court Services
Child Protective Services
Comprehensive Services Act (CSA)
Daycare
- Adult Services
Protective Service
Companion Service
Adult Foster Care
Care Residences
Community Based Care & Nursing Home Placement
VIEW Employment Program
