GOSHEN – The Orange County Department of Social Services is working toward providing permanent housing for as many persons in need as possible.

Right now, eight to nine homeless families per month seek temporary housing in Orange County and some 50 to 80 individuals per day are homeless.

The county, with a homeless shelter in Middletown and two homeless resource centers, continues to strive to move people into permanent housing, said County Social Services Commissioner David Jolly.

Taking ownership of one’s residence, by way of rental or buying a home, is so important, said County Legislator Daniel Depew. It can make a difference on how a family takes care of their residence, he said.

“If we drop off a heap load of oil and then the next day, the windows are open – and I’m not saying it’s everybody, I’m not trying to put that stigma on it – but, my grandfather made it through the Depression and he always said you care for something if you work for it,” he said. “If they had pay for the heating oil, maybe they would close the window. It’s just a different mentality. If you give something to people all the time, then there’s no understanding that it’s temporary or that you have to work for it, at some point you have to stand up and make it happen, then they’ll count on it and you will have an entire society of dependent people who won’t work for themselves.”

Under federal law, people cannot receive temporary assistance for more than five years total in a lifetime.

The County Social Services Department said that aside from its housing resource centers in Middletown and Newburgh, it has launched tenant education workshops and enhanced its after-hours program to include preventive services, landlord assistance, case management and follow up services.