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SPRINGFIELD -- A computer glitch at the state Department of Transitional Assistance building at 95 Liberty Street in Springfield delayed aid to homeless and low-income people on Monday.

(JOE DEBURRO / THE REPUBLICAN)

SPRINGFIELD - Arise for Social Justice officials said there were computer problems Monday at the Department of Transitional Assistance building on Liberty Street that led to delays in aid to homeless and low-income people.

Arise officials said they were particularly concerned that some homeless people did not get aid with housing due to the problem. Arise is an organization that aids low-income people and lobbies on their behalf.

Thomas Mills, a spokesman for the Department of Transitional Assistance, said he believes the problem lasted only approximately an hour, and involved a problem with the Verizon server to that building only at 95 Liberty St.

Verizon and the state's information technology employees were monitoring the problem thereafter, he said.

The computer problems occurred in the morning and were followed by restoration of service at approximately 11:15 a.m., followed by some sporadic computer outages, said Liz Bewsee, Arise's economic justice organizer.

Mills said he was not aware of any issue that followed the initial Verizon outage

Bewsee said people were told during the outage they could wait, or come back, or leave a phone number. Mills said that was true, and people were also advised they could go to the agency's office at 310 State St.