Getting help from Oswego County Opportunities.
Oswego County Opportunities — known throughout the county as OCO — is the designated community action agency for Oswego County and one of the most wide-ranging human service organizations in the region. This page will help you learn what exactly is offered and the first steps to take. Founded in 1966, OCO now serves roughly 15,000 people a year through more than 50 programs covering housing, food, health care, youth services, crisis support, behavioral health, education, and transportation.
It operates with about 600 employees and 1,200 volunteers, which makes it one of the ten largest private employers in Oswego County — an indicator of just how deeply embedded it is in a rural county where major employers are few. OCO is not a single-program agency. If you're trying to figure out where to start, the best approach is to call the main number at 315-598-4717 (toll-free 1-800-359-1171) or email [email protected] and describe what you need. Staff can direct you to the right program or office. The sections below cover OCO's main service areas.
Housing help: preventing homelessness and finding stable housing
OCO's Homeless Services program assists people who are at risk of losing their housing or who are already without a stable place to live. The focus is on two situations: preventing an eviction before it happens, and helping someone who is already homeless find permanent, affordable housing. A Homeless Specialist conducts an assessment of the household's situation — strengths, needs, and longer-term goals — and then provides ongoing case management, advocacy with landlords, job skills support, and guidance in navigating the housing market.
Direct financial assistance for security deposits and other housing-related costs ma be available for those who qualify. Emergency supplies are also distributed to people in immediate need.
OCO also owns and operates Backstreet, a building in Fulton that provides permanent housing in six apartments above a community-use space. This building — rehabilitated from a long-vacant former hotel — includes a studio, two one-bedroom units, two two-bedroom units, and one three-bedroom apartment. It represents an unusual step for a community action agency: OCO doesn't just connect people to housing, it actually owns and manages affordable units.
For young people specifically, the PATH program provides transitional living for homeless youth ages 16 to 21. PATH offers shelter alongside support for developing independent living skills and completing educational goals. It has served young people in the county since 1991. PATH can be reached at 315-342-7618 or toll-free at 1-800-342-7618 on weekdays. For after-hours housing crises, dial 211.
Food and nutrition
OCO coordinates meals for seniors and homebound residents across the county through the Meals on Wheels program and through dining and activity centers. Home deliveries are carried out by a network of volunteers, and transportation to medical appointments is available through the OCO RIDES program for residents over 60. These services are open to all seniors regardless of income.
OCO also maintains and publishes a regularly updated county-wide list of food pantries, soup kitchens, mobile food distributions, and free dinners across Oswego County — a practical resource for anyone facing immediate food needs beyond what OCO directly provides.
Education and early childhood
Head Start provides pre-kindergarten programming for three and four year olds across all nine school districts in Oswego County, with sites in Fulton, Oswego, Phoenix, and West Monroe. OCO's After School program provides experiential learning opportunities for school-age youth in a safe setting. OCO also operates a licensed child care center for children 12 months to 5 years.
A note for adults seeking literacy support: OCO's Literacy Volunteers program closed in August 2025 after losing state funding. Adults who need literacy or GED support can contact the CiTi Lifelong Learning Center at 315-963-4283 or visit https://www.citiboces.org/.
Health services: reproductive health, cancer support, and care coordination
- NOTE: The information provided below about the programs OCO offers is for educational and resource purposes only. It does not constitute professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified health provider with any questions regarding a medical condition.
OCO provides a range of health services at no cost or reduced cost to people who are uninsured or have limited means. The health programs are consolidated at the 10 George Street office in Oswego.
Reproductive health care is available to both women and men and includes clinical services, patient education, lab work, and assistance with obtaining health insurance. The Health Education program extends this into schools and community settings, with a mobile testing unit providing confidential HIV testing at locations across the county.
The Cancer Services program provides services not just in Oswego County but also in Jefferson, Lewis, and St. Lawrence counties — giving it an unusual regional reach for a county-based agency. This program connects people with cancer screening, navigation support, and access to treatment resources.
Health Homes is a care coordination program for people whose health needs are complex — those managing multiple chronic conditions, mental illness, or substance use alongside social service needs. Care managers work across the full spectrum of a person's situation, coordinating medical, mental health, substance abuse, and social service support so nothing falls through the cracks.
The WIC program provides food, formula, nutrition counseling, and health care referrals to income-eligible pregnant women, new mothers, infants, and children up to age five throughout Fulton and Oswego County.
Behavioral health: mental health and substance use residential programs
For adults with mental illness or substance use disorders, OCO operates several residential programs that go well beyond emergency shelter. The Mental Health Transitional Living Program provides two levels of supported housing — a supervised residence with 24-hour staffing for those who need more structure, and an apartment treatment option for people ready for greater independence with regular staff check-ins.
Family Care matches adults recovering from mental illness with private families in the community who provide support and stability in a home setting — a distinctive alternative to both institutional care and fully independent living.
The Chemical Dependence Program includes the Arbor House Community Residence (a substance-free environment with 24-hour staffing for up to 16 adults) and Supportive Living Apartments (transitional housing for those who have maintained sobriety and are ready to re-enter the community).
A note on OCO's geographic role in Oswego County
Oswego County is rural, stretching from the eastern shore of Lake Ontario north through farm country and small cities. There's no large urban center with multiple competing social service agencies. OCO is genuinely it — the single broadest-reach human service organization in the county, and the place most people in crisis will end up regardless of what their specific need is. That's why the main line (315-598-4717) is a reasonable first call for almost any situation described on this page, even if you're not sure which program applies.
Locations
OCO's main administrative office and the Fulton service hub are at 239 Oneida Street, Fulton, NY 13069, phone 315-598-4717. The Oswego office — housing health, housing, crisis, and community programs — is at 10 George Street, Oswego, NY 13126. A community service center in the northern part of the county is at 5871 Scenic Ave., Mexico, NY 13114. The toll-free number 1-800-359-1171 and website at https://www.oco.org/ reaches the main office from anywhere in the county.
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