Mayors Public Engegement Unit

June 2022

What's NEW at PEU!

PEU Staff members ready to talk about different resources for New Yorkers at the “Do Something Good for Your Neighbor” mobile unit day!

TEAM WINS

Affordable Connectivity Program

Since January 2022, PEU has been calling New Yorkers to let them know about the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP). ACP is a federal benefit program that provides discounts to ensure households can afford the internet services they need for work, school, and more. From PEU's outreach, more than 1,000 eligible New Yorkers have successfully signed up for the benefit, resulting in thousands of dollars in savings! New Yorkers who qualify can still get the Affordable Connectivity Benefit. Visit ACPBenefit.org to learn more.

IDNYC Day of Action

PEU visited different boroughs this month to distribute flyers with information about IDNYC, an identification card for all New Yorkers. New Yorkers from all backgrounds and across all five boroughs can obtain this New York City identification card by applying through this link.

This ID card provides access to a wide variety of services and programs offered by the City. IDNYC cardholders also enjoy benefits and discounts offered by businesses and cultural institutions in every borough.

Tenant Support Post-Eviction Moratorium

Since the end of the eviction moratorium, our Tenant Support Unit has reached out to more than 80,000 New Yorkers through door-to-door canvassing, phone calls, and peer-to-peer text messages to inform them about their tenant rights and resources.

To learn about your tenant rights and get support from a PEU Specialist, call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline.”

SCRIE/DRIE Rent Freeze Renewal Campaign

PEU’s Rent Freeze team has been conducting in-person outreach to older New Yorkers and New Yorkers with disabilities to help them freeze their rent. Join us at one of their upcoming library office hours:

Kingsbridge Library, Wednesday, June 1, 10:30-2:30pm, 291 W, 231st Street, Bronx, NY 10463

Brooklyn Central Library, Thursday, June 2, 10:30am- 2:30pm, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, NY 11238

Washington Heights Library, Friday, June 3, 10:30am-2:30pm, 1000 St Nicholas Ave, New York, NY 1003

Elmhurst Library, SCRIE/DRIE enrollment event, Wednesday, June 8, 10:30am- 2:30pm, 86-07 Broadway, Queens, NY 11373

Can’t make one of our events? Speak to a PEU Specialist for information on rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption programs by calling the hotline at (929) 252-7242.

Stay tuned on our social media pages in Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for more upcoming events.

Bridge Builders Community Partnership's Weekly Food Pantry

Each week, PEU partners with Bridge Builders, a community-based organization whose mission is to partner with the community to assist Highbridge families to get the help they need, at their weekly food pantry. The team tables at the pantry to spread the word about health insurance enrollment and to make sure New Yorkers know about GetCoveredNYC. New Yorkers can get one-on-one help about finding health insurance options that fit their budget by calling 311 and asking for GetCoveredNYC, or by filling out our form at nyc.gov/GetCoveredNYC for a Specialist to reach out directly.

National Small Business Week

PEU's Special Projects Team, which supports all PEU units and coordinates projects based on the City’s most urgent priorities, supported the NYC Department of Small Business Services (SBS) with Small Business Week earlier this month. Celebrated in the first week of May each year, Small Business Week features exciting events across NYC to support small businesses and encourage New Yorkers to shop local.

Outreach at Mayday Space

Recently, PEU’s Tenant Support Unit (TSU) team organized a tabling event at Mayday Space, a home for social movements, people power and community events based in Bushwick, Brooklyn. At the event, TSU provided free information on tenants’ rights, assistance navigating housing-related issues, and connection to a range of resources. For information on tenants rights and the Right-to-Counsel, call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline,” or visit nyc.gov/TenantSupportUnit.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT

SBS Mobile Unit Partnership: Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day

Do you know about the many benefits of renting to a voucher holder? Vouchers may cover a 15% broker fee and one-month security deposit, and renting to voucher holders guarantees monthly rent checks backed by the government, one-on-one support from PEU Specialists through the lease-up process, and more!

In honor of Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day on May 16th, PEU partnered with NYC Department of Small Business Services and NYC Department of Housing Preservation & Development (HPD) to get the word out. We spent the day at Roberto Clemente Plaza in the Bronx, encouraging rental owners and brokers to rent to voucher holders. The event also included SBS and HPD mobile van outreach with resources like career services, tenant support, insurance information, and more!

“Landlords and brokers can play a huge part in moving New Yorkers from homelessness into stable housing. Innovative events and inter-agency partnerships like these are a complement to the calls, texts, and on-ground outreach our team does every day to connect with landlords and brokers and support them in the process of renting to voucher holders ” – Adrienne Lever, Executive Director of the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU)

For more resources and to learn how you can get involved, go to nyc.gov/IVouchForVouchers.

Mobile Unit Day of Action with DOHMH

On Thursday, May 12, PEU hosted a day of action in partnership with Small Business Services (SBS), the Department of Consumer and Workers Protection, and DOHMH Corona Health Center. The event featured the SBS Mobile Unit and the teams provided information about health insurance enrollment, tenant support, and financial empowerment services, in addition to screening the community for benefits eligibility.

TWEET OF THE MONTH

IN THE NEWS

Press Release: City Promotes Benefits of Renting to Voucher Holders as Part of 'Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day' May 16, 2022

AMNY: City promotes new event for ‘Do Something Good for Your Neighbor’ day May 16, 2022

Queens Latino: NYC Wants You to Do Something for the Neighborhoods May 18, 2022

China Press: 购买医保 民众勿忘求助GetCoveredNYC华语服务 (Do not forget to reach out to GetCovered NYC Mandarin assistance when purchasing medical insurance) May 22, 2022

RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

If you are interested in applying for cash assistance or SNAP, visit https://a069-access.nyc.gov/accesshra/.

Mental health counselors are available 24 hours a day to provide free support in many languages. You can contact them directly by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL.

NYC Fair Fares: Eligible New York City residents can get a 50% discount on eligible transportation. Help us to spread the word by sharing this HRA toolkit or check your eligibility at nyc.gov/fairfares or call 311.

NYC Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment is kicking off #NYMM2022 with the return of their free June 1 event – NY Music Month Conference: The Future of NYC's Music Industry, with NYU Steinhardt Music Business Program! You are invited to this event, RSVP today via this link http://on.nyc.gov/NYMM2022

PEU staff member shows a flyer to a community member at Do Something Good for Your Neighbor Day. Find resources at nyc.gov/IVouchForVouchers.

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