Picture the Homeless - Rent Subsidies

Rent Subsidies

Tue, 02 Oct 2007 10:18:16 -0700

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.

Shelter Campaign

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 13:47:26 -0700

In addition to shelter, we contend that homeless New Yorkers also have a right to dignity and respect, to be provided shelter and services that relieve the stresses of poverty and homelessness, and quickly and efficiently promote a return to housing.

Our Shelter Campaign arose out of the need to respond to the deplorable conditions of far too many shelters in New York City and to the demeaning way clients of the shelter system are treated by shelter staff.

Shelter Campaign

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 13:08:09 -0700

How We Do Our Work

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 15:51:17 -0700

Direct Action:
The Shelter Committee works directly with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to try and change policies and laws that affect homeless people. We also attend and participate in legislative meetings with the City Council and State Assembly. We also meet and correspond with “movers and shakers” including Commissioner Linda Gibbs (DHS), Commissioner Robert Doer [Office of Temperary and Disability Assistance] (OTDA), and Commissioner Verna Eggleston [Human Resources Administration] (HRA). In addition, we hold rallies and actions to pressure those in authority as a means of getting our message across.

Research & Documentation:
In 2004 we collected 365 surveys to document conditions of homeless New Yorkers in shelters. We wanted to document and show the physical conditions homeless people face everyday living in shelters.

Public Education: We enlighten the homeless populatin, especially those within the city shelters, by giving them the tools to advocate for themselves and others. In addition, we also educate legislators and policymakers about issues and conditions within the shelter system.

Grassroots Organizing:
The shelter committee holds weekly shelter meetings at Picture The Homeless, and outreach to members and other homeless people in shelters. Members have networks of people who they know, inviting people to meetings and actions, but also taking information to people where they are, asking for input and bringing in issues from the shelters to each organizing meeting. Attendance at meetings is not a prerequisite for any voice to be heard.

Leadership Development:
New members are quickly oriented to our organizational goals and identify issues that they want to work on, some consistently participate and quickly move into leadership roles. Training is provided as members identify needs such as planning actions, and public speaking. Members are encouraged to participate in direct actions and other public events as soon as they join.

How We Do Our Work

Sat, 08 Oct 2005 11:49:25 -0700

Direct Action: The Shelter Committee works directly with the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to try and change policies and laws that affect homeless people. We also attend and participate in legislative meetings with the City Council and State Assembly. We also meet and correspond with “movers and shakers” including Commissioner Linda Gibbs (DHS), Commissioner Robert Doer [Office of Temperary and Disability Assistance] (OTDA), and Commissioner Verna Eggleston [Human Resources Administration] (HRA). In addition, we hold rallies and actions to pressure those in authority as a means of getting our message across. Research & Documentation: In 2004 we collected 365 surveys to document conditions of homeless New Yorkers in shelters. We wanted to document and show the physical conditions homeless people face everyday living in shelters. Public Education: We enlighten the homeless populatin, especially those within the city shelters, by giving them the tools to advocate for themselves and others. In addition, we also educate legislators and policymakers about issues and conditions within the shelter system. Grass Roots Organizing: The shelter committee holds weekly shelter meetings at Picture The Homeless, and outreach to members and other homeless people in shelters. Members have networks of people who they know, inviting people to meetings and actions, but also taking information to people where they are, asking for input and bringing in issues from the shelters to each organizing meeting. Attendance at meetings is not a prerequisite for any voice to be heard. Leadership Development: New members are quickly oriented to our organizational goals and identify issues that they want to work on, some consistently participate and quickly move into leadership roles. Training is provided as members identify needs such as planning actions, and public speaking. Members are encouraged to participate in direct actions and other public events as soon as they join.

Shelter Campaign Accomplishments

Sat, 15 Oct 2005 16:00:25 -0700

♥ Moved Councilwoman Margarita Lopez to introduce a Homeless Bill of Rights and Grievance Process in the NYC Council;

♥ Has made the Department of Homeless Services want to fight for a Work Support component within the Housing Stability Plus Program.
♥ Moved the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) to begin holding monthly meetings, and include the participation of homeless New Yorkers, to monitor problems within New York shelters.
♥ We got Deputy Commissioner Maryanne Schretzman of DHS to come to our office twice to meet with homeless individuals and families to respond to their questions and concerns regarding Housing Stability Plus (HSP), housing, shelter and EAU issues.
♥ Moved the Department of Homeless Services to hold monthly HSP workgroup meetings to deal with substandard apartments, side deals, and to work on the implementation of a Work Support Program within HSP.
♥ Worked with DHS to make significant changes at Camp LaGuardia. We got a comprehensive orientation initiated, 3 ineffective Client Caseworkers were fired in the Social Services Department, 5 new Client Caseworkers were hired in the Social Services Department, and bus procedures changed for the better.

♥ Worked with Shelter members who were residents of the Washington Hotel to get a meeting with the owner and make changes to the physical conditions of the hotel. We got them to distribute new beds to those who needed them; fix rodent infestations; post important notices to residents; put a grievance procedure in place for security guards to deal with problematic residents; repair holes in the ceiling and replace broken air conditioners; and put new locks on doors for residents.

Shelter Campaign

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 11:09:34 -0700

Can I Get a Witness?

Thu, 06 Oct 2005 08:19:45 -0700

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.

Goals of the Shelter Campaign

Wed, 05 Oct 2005 10:48:02 -0700

The Goals for the Shelter Campaign are to:

♥ Improve physical conditions in the shelter system, as well as administrative policy changes that determine where shelter assignments are made to ensure that homeless children are able to attend their home school or school of their parent/guardians choice.
♥ Pass and Implement a Homeless Bill of Rights and Grievance process for all DHS funded facilities system wide.
♥ Change the process by which people leave shelter for housing—currently, NYC’s Department of Homeless Services has only one housing subsidy available, Housing Stability Plus, and it is deeply flawed and destined to create more homelessness in the long run. We’re fighting to make HSP work for all homeless people!

Goals for Housing Stability Plus

♥ No five year deadline.
♥ No 20% decline in subsidies.
♥ Include all sections of the homeless population: (families, singles, veterans, criminal backgrounds, undocumented immigrants).
♥ Include people with all types of income, including employed shelter residents who can’t afford housing.
♥ Include provisions to create NEW HOUSING via the Picture the Homeless Housing & Jobs Platform.
♥ End housing discrimination against homeless people.
♥ Plan cannot be completed without full, substantive input from homeless New Yorkers.