After two years of activism by Picture the Homeless and other organizations, NYC's Department of Homeless Services finally dismantled its desperately-flawed rental subsidy "Housing Stability Plus," and replaced it with a new set of subsidies collectively called "The Advantage Programs."

While we're glad the city's not giving out HSP vouchers anymore, the new programs come with a whole new set of problems. And we're still getting dozens of calls a week from folks who are living in HSP apartments and continue to face deplorable conditions, constant eviction threats, and repeated rent-payment stoppages due to bureaucratic mishaps at the city's Human Resources Administration.

That's why we've changed our campaign from one focused on HSP, to one that targets ALL city subsidies for homeless New Yorkers.

PICTURE THE HOMELESS DEMANDS TO FIX CITY RENT SUBSIDIES:

1. Include Drop-In Center residents for rental assistance programs with the same priority as shelter residents.

2. Include street homeless population under eligibility criteria. Section 8 and supportive housing are not suitable for all street homeless persons.

3. Designate battered women as a special needs group in the Advantage Program, and revise program to accommodate their special needs.

4. Revise training procedures of DHS and HRA staff who deal with HSP and Advantage Plus recipients to address the following problems identified by our members:

o Lack of affordable housing
o Pressuring of clients to accept substandard housing.
o Easier de-leasing process.


5. Reform current job training to insure recipients are trained to receive living wage earning employment.

6. Bring existing HSP apts. on line to Section 8 standards immediately or relocate residents with existing building code violations.

7. Adopt demands of Picture the Homeless’ Homeless Housing & Jobs Platform, in order to create job training and housing for the homeless.

8. Convene a meeting with HRA, DHS and Housing Court Judges to implement an immediate moratorium on evictions of HSP residents due to disruptions to HRA rent payments.