Picture the Homeless

Case Closed
Alicia Jackson
My name is Alicia Jackson, in March of 2004 I was working for CAMBA serving the homeless population when I found myself in the same situation due to domestic violence. I went to the EAU (Emergency Assistance Unit) and they placed me into a shelter for pregnant women which also had domestic violence cases also. While in this shelter the case manager didn’t inform me that I had to apply for Public Assistance in order to get Section 8. This postponed my Section 8 application. I didn’t know I needed to be on Public Assistance because I was working, so my application was sent off in mid August of 2004. After I had my daughter in July, they moved me to a Tier II shelter named the Arbor Inn. Then there was another delay in my Section 8 application due to my youngest son not having a social security number, for one month. After this month the caseworker for Section 8 took an extended vacation and sick leave for two months, and no one else would take this case for me. They kept telling me that I had to wait until she returned, so nothing was done.

I met Tyletha Samuels of Picture the Homeless and Horris Brown of DHS by attending a DHS Advocacy Meeting. Mr. Brown called a Housing Specialist to see what was going on with my Section 8 application. The specialist called section 8 and we were told that the morning of October 19, 2004 the caseworker was going to sign off on my section 8 application. If I didn’t have a lease signing date my application was dead. Because this didn’t go through Mr. Brown pushed through my HSP application and I signed off on this not knowing that I would lose some of the benefits of HSP once I was accepted.

I was told that I had 3 months to find an apartment that accepts the HSP program or we would be sanctioned and sent back to EAU to start all over again. Then if I didn’t accept the first available apartment that takes HSP we would be sanctioned and sent back to the EAU. In the shelter I was bitten by something that swollen up my arm and also had an accident in December. I slipped and fell and had to have a MRI and I must have another one soon. I still go for therapy for this injury. They would give us a plate of food for two to share and say that we should be grateful because they give us this food P.A. doesn’t pay for it.

Currently I’m in an HSP apartment, but my case was closed in the early part of March and than re-open in late March. In May the landlord complained that HRA was late paying the rent. He than said he got the rent for May and part of June. I then found out that they wouldn’t be paying anymore rent because I was said to make too much money on my job. I depleted my savings, used up my credit cards and is now in debt. The landlord said he has given the welfare (HSP) enough time to pay, now he has to take action in having me removed from the apartment in the form of an eviction. I want people to know that if you have the HSP program you can’t take a job with the Parks Department.

Desperate
Crystal Sutton
I am desperate to get out of the shelter system, and I hope that my going through this now will help someone else in the future.

I went on the welfare to work program and started in December. If I did not go to this my PA would have been cut off. So I started working at Parks on December 17. In February, in fact the week after Valentine's Day I received a letter that stated, "Congratulations, you are certified to receive HSP. So the Housing Specialist advised me of the rules and regulations.

Now I have taken time off of work, sacrificed spending time with my kids, sacrificed enrolling in extra classes in school all to look for an apartment and to get out of shelter, I have searched many and various places. I finally found a place to live. The realtor started the process, I told my housing specialist and then it happens, my Housing Specialist informs me I can not get HSP because I work. When I spoke to someone from HRA they told me to quit my job so I could get the assistance.

Now I have wasted so much time and energy, looking and searching. Why was this not told to me before? I feel a cruel trick has been played on me. They just watched me run around, threatening to write me up if I did not comply with the rules and now you tell me after all of that I can't have the program. I lost time (money) from my employment trying to comply with the rules and so much more.

So here I am. I am being made a seasonal person for 6 months starting 07/09/05. From there I will become permanent employee with parks. I am Assistant to the Assistant Commissioner of Citywide Services for the City of NYC Parks and Recreation. Eventually I will receive benefits, but still not enough money to house my 4 children.

Things are looking better for me I just need a little help with a home. The 5 year plan that HSP offers would have been perfect for me. I will be returning to school for Fall, 2005. I am trying to move forward in my life with God’s help. My first goal was to have a permanent job, now I just want a home, however my job will not pay enough for me to maintain a home and take care of my kids. Please help I do not want to quit my job to get assistance! I only need help for a limited amount of time. Just until I graduate with and receive my degree.

I don't understand why I cannot receive Section 8, even though they say it has been cut off I know in some cases they still give it out.

I can fax you all of my documentation supporting all I have mentioned above, even my housing specialist letters stating that I need to adhere to the rules dated 05/23/05.