NEW RENT SUBSIDY PROGRAMS REPLACE HSP
(Article published in HWW June 2007)
Speaking to the homeless in shelters, the City’s new mantra is "The only way out of shelter is work."
In a series of meetings with shelter providers and letters to homeless families, NYC’s Department of Homeless Services launched the ADVANTAGE RENTAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, a group of rent subsidy strategies to help move the city’s homeless from shelter to homes. Advantage will replace Housing Stability Plus, which has been the main path out of the shelter system for the past two years.
WORK ADVANTAGE – A PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO WORK FULL OR PART-TIME
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Work Advantage is a one year rent subsidy, with the possibility of a second year, for homeless families with children and also a limited number of childless couples and single adults who work full or part-time.
To qualify you must
• have been in shelter 90 days and
• work at least 20 hours per week with income below 150% of the Federal Poverty level. (See chart below.)
At the time you apply, you must either have an active public assistance case or single issue p.a. status. But it’s not like HSP which required you to keep an open p.a. case or else lose your rent subsidy. With the WORK ADVANTAGE program, continued eligibility is not tied to Public Assistance status.
WHAT IT OFFERS AND WHAT IT REQUIRES?
The city pays one full year of rent support directly to the landlord, with the possibility of a second year of support if you meet DHS’s recertification criteria.
• You are expected to open and maintain a bank account. You are required to save up to 20% of the amount of your rent and put it in your bank account. At the end of the subsidy, the city will match the total amount you have put in the bank.
• You also are expected to make a contribution to the rent by paying $50 a
month directly to the landlord. (See chart below.) At the end of the subsidy, DHS will match the sum of these $50 monthly payments and add the total to your savings account.
HOW MUCH RENT SUPPORT DOES THE CITY PAY?
AMOUNT OF RENTAL SUPPLEMENT
Family Composition (number of persons in household): 1
Maximum rent: $889
Client Contribution: $50
Maximum rent subsidy: $839
Family Composition (number of persons in household): 2
Maximum rent: $962
Client Contribution: $50
Maximum rent subsidy: $912
Family Composition (number of persons in household): 3 and 4
Maximum rent: $1,070
Client Contribution: $50
Maximum rent subsidy: $1,020
Family Composition (number of persons in household): 5 and 6
Maximum rent: $1,316
Client Contribution: $50
Maximum rent subsidy: $1,266
Family Composition (number of persons in household): 7 and 8
Maximum rent: $1,354
Client Contribution: $50
Maximum rent subsidy: $1,304
WHO DECIDES IF YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A SECOND YEAR OF THE SUBSIDY?
DHS decides and says you need to be working and you need to be earning less than 200% of the Federal Poverty Level to qualify for a second year of the subsidy.
The requirements to pay the landlord $50 a month and to save 20% of the rent amount are "voluntary" in the sense that DHS won’t automatically cut off your rent if you fail to do these things. But what you do will figure in the decision when maybe halfway through the first year DHS starts thinking about whether you should be re-certified for a second year of the subsidy
What if a client on Work Advantage loses a job or bumps into a crisis of some sort and can’t pay the landlord $50 a month or save?
Right now DHS’s answer to questions like that is "We won’t penalize them – We’ll work with them. – We’ll assist them to find another job ."
Who is "we"? The answer to that is not yet entirely clear. DHS does say that every client who receives the Work Advantage subsidy will be referred to a Home Base prevention program. This is the city’s homelessness prevention program, now serving six neighborhoods in the city and scheduled to serve the entire city by sometime in September. The HomeBase programs will be given contact information for all Work Advantage clients who move into their community, and will offer help if needed.
FIXED INCOME ADVANTAGE – A PROGRAM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RECEIVING FEDERAL BENEFITS SUCH AS SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY INSURANCE
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Households with fixed income benefits such as SSI or SSD, identified by HRA after 60 days in shelter. To qualify you must receive an eligibility letter from HRA. You must be on Public Assistance or single issue p.a. at time of shelter exit.
WHAT IT OFFERS?
Up to one year of rental assistance, with help in getting priority for Section 8 vouchers or other supports if you are not Section 8 eligible. At the time of your lease signing, You’ll be given a Section application and DHS will facilitate it.
Aftercare services and other supports will be available to these households after they leave shelter.
HOW MUCH DOES THE CITY PAY?
Rent payment is based on bedroom count, as determined by family composition and gender.
AMOUNT OF RENTAL SUPPLEMENT
Bedroom count 0: $889
Bedroom count 1: $962
Bedroom count 2: $1,070
Bedroom count 3: $1,316
Bedroom count 4: $1,354
CHILDREN’S ADVANTAGE – RENTAL ASSISTANCE FOR FAMILIES IN SHELTER WITH OPEN ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN’S SERVICES (ACS) CASES.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Families identified by ACS as having an active ACS case (including prevention). You must receive an eligibility letter from ACS. You must be on public assistance or single issue at time of shelter exit.
WHAT IT OFFERS?
Up to one year of rental assistance, with help in getting priority for Section 8 vouchers or other permanent rental assistance. At the time of your lease signing, you’ll be given a Section 8 application. DHS will facilitate it.
Aftercare services and other supports will be available to help these families after they leave shelter.
HOW MUCH SUPPORT DOES THE CITY PAY?
AMOUNT OF RENTAL SUPPLEMENT
Bedroom count 0: $889
Bedroom count 1: $962
Bedroom count 2: $1,070
Bedroom count 3: $1,316
Bedroom count 4: $1,354
SHORT TERM ADVANTAGE – FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOME WHO ARE ABLE TO LEAVE SHELTER QUICKLY AND ESTABLISH INDEPENDENCE
WHO IS ELIGIBLE?
Shelter residents with income between 150% to 200% of the Federal Poverty Level (See Chart below) are eligible after 60 days in shelter. Income can come from employment, Social Security benefits, child support or VA benefits. At the time of shelter exit, households must have an active Public Assistance case with a $0.00 budget or a single issue case.
HOW MUCH SUPPORT DOES THE CITY PAY?
Four months rent plus one month security deposit , furniture allowance, and one month’s broker’s fee.
2007 FEDERAL POVERTY LEVEL GUIDELINES
Family Size 1:
100% Poverty: $12,252
150% Poverty: $15,315
200% Poverty: $20,420
Family Size 2:
100% Poverty: $13,690
150% Poverty: $20,535
200% Poverty: $27,380
Family Size 3:
100% Poverty: $17,170
150% Poverty: $25,755
200% Poverty: $34,340
Family Size 4:
100% Poverty: $20,650
150% Poverty: $30,975
200% Poverty: $41,300
Family Size 5:
100% Poverty: $24,130
150% Poverty: $36,195
200% Poverty: $48,260
Family Size 6:
100% Poverty: $27,610
150% Poverty: $41,415
200% Poverty: $55,220
Family Size 7:
100% Poverty: $31,090
150% Poverty: $46,635
200% Poverty: $69,140
Family Size 8:
100% Poverty: $34,570
150% Poverty: $51,855
200% Poverty: $69,140
For family units more than 8 members, add $3,480.
WHAT HAPPENS TO FAMILIES ON HSP?
Housing Stability Plus (HSP), introduced two and a half years ago as the main path out of shelter for homeless New Yorkers, has been closed down and replaced by the Advantage programs. No new families will be certified for HSP.
If you are in a shelter and you have an HSP eligibility letter, you have a choice. You have until June 30th to find an HSP apartment. Or you can switch your certification to Work Advantage but you must do it by June 30th. DHS is urging you to switch to Work Advantage because it offers a higher guaranteed rent and matched savings.
If you have moved out of shelter and into an apartment with the HSP subsidy, you also have a choice and you have one year to make that choice. You can decide to stick with HSP, which was introduced as a 5-year subsidy with a stepdown of 20% each year. If you decide to stick with HSP, you will receive your rent subsidy for whatever time remains of your five years and your subsidy will stay at the same level it is now.
Or you can ask to be switched to Work Advantage. If you do, you can receive the first year of the Work Advantage subsidy and apply to be recertified for the second year – no matter how long you have been with HSP.
If clients or housing specialists in the shelter system need information about the new Advantage rent subsidy programs, call (212) 361-6611, 12, 13.
___________________________________________
In a Bronx church last month, DHS Commissioner Robert V. Hess answered questions about the city’s new rent subsidy programs. The gathering was sponsored by Picture the Homeless, a group devoted to advancing the cause of homeless people in NYC. Here are some commitments he made:
o Another future meeting with Picture the Homeless and Commissioner Robert Hess.
o Battered women will be special needs group in the Advantage Program.
o HomeBase funding to be doubled and encompass all of the New York City area.
o HomeBase will help with eviction problems facing those with HSP.
o HSP recipients will receive a letter giving them one year to join the Advantage Program.
o Working Homeless who earn $7.50 hr. should be able to join Work Advantage.
o HRA will provide job placement for Work Advantage participants.
o Monthly staff meetings (Re: DHS Police complaints).
o DHS will not place recipients’ into unsafe apartments without proper Section 8 inspections.
