Mayors Public Engegement Unit

What's NEW at PEU!

December 2023

About the Public Engagement Unit (PEU)

The NYC Public Engagement Unit (PEU) uses community organizing principles to re-envision how the city provides services to its most vulnerable communities. Rather than expecting constituents to navigate a complex city bureaucracy to get the help they need, PEU adopts grassroots tactics to meet residents where they are – at their doors and on their phones, in their social media feeds, and in their communities. PEU combines this proactive outreach with comprehensive case management, and in doing so, builds long-term relationships between New Yorkers and their government.

Team Wins

GetCoveredNYC Day of Action

We teamed up with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) in Corona, Queens, to encourage residents to enroll in health coverage. Our GetCoveredNYC team canvassed the area to connect New Yorkers to certified enrollers and provide information about health plan options, financial assistance, and ongoing enrollment support. See more about the event in coverage from NY 1 Noticias.

Need help with health coverage? Learn more about GetCoveredNYC and get support here.

Reclaiming Stolen Benefits

PEU staff has been diligently assisting New Yorkers across the city in submitting refund claims for stolen benefits. Have you experienced a sudden loss of your benefits through transactions that you didn’t make? It’s possible that someone might have electronically stolen your SNAP and/or Cash Assistance. NYC households can now submit claims to request the replacement of electronically stolen benefits. If you believe that this has happened to you, you must 1) report your EBT card as stolen and 2) file a claim to have your benefits replaced. Learn more and get help at on.nyc.gov/ReclaimSNAP.

Rent Freeze Outreach

Over 100,000 New Yorkers qualify for the City’s Rent Freeze programs, which help older New Yorkers and New Yorkers with disabilities stop their rent from going up. Unfortunately, many eligible people don’t know about the program and have yet to enroll. To help more older adults and people with disabilities save money and stay in their homes, our Tenant Support Unit (TSU) is increasing outreach in high-impact zip codes to promote the program. Our team also provides one-on-one assistance with enrollment: learn more about Rent Freeze here.

Home for the Holidays: Large-Scale Viewing Project

Our Home Support Unit (HSU) recently coordinated a viewing at a 90-unit apartment complex, attracting dozens of interested families, to help our partners seamlessly fill their vacant units. Our HSU team helps brokers and property owners fill vacant units in NYC by renting to New Yorkers receiving qualified rental assistance. This recent project is part of a new ambitious campaign to expedite our viewing processes and ensure that more families can be home for the holidays.

Specialist Spotlight

Thousands of New Yorkers have had their SNAP and/or Cash Assistance funds electronically stolen, but they can now submit claims to replace their benefits. Charmaine, a Specialist on our Special Projects Team, has been working hard to help New Yorkers submit these claims and regain stolen government benefits. With targeted text messages and phone calls, Charmaine and her colleagues have reached out to 16,000 New Yorkers who may have had their benefits stolen.

Earlier this month, one of Charmaine’s clients who had worked with her to regain stolen funds reached back out with bad news: unfortunately, Charmaine’s client’s benefits had been once again stolen. Her client was upset, but she reached out to Charmaine because, in her words, “I have the magic link.” Within two weeks, Charmaine made sure that her client’s money was replaced for a second time.

Upcoming Events

Join us for health insurance information sessions today (in English) or tomorrow (in Spanish). If you enroll in health insurance by December 15th, you'll be covered on January 1st. Make your countdown to the New Year a countdown to health insurance!

In the News

Rent rates increased on October 1—but it’s not too late to freeze your rent by PEU’s Tenant Support Outreach Director Jasmin Batista and Department of Finance’s Taxpayer Advocate Robin Lee.

Op-ed | We must fix the housing crisis and keep New Yorkers in their homes by PEU’s Executive Director Adrienne Lever.

Campaña para proveer seguro médico a personas sin cobertura, Coverage in Spectrum Noticias NY1.

Instan a más neoyorquinos sin acceso a atención médica a que se inscriban al programa gratuito o de bajo costo NYC Care, Coverage in El Diario.

Government technology is famously bad. It doesn’t have to be, Coverage in MIT Technology Review.

Resources & Announcements

Citywide WhatsApp Channels: Mayor Eric Adams announced the launch of the New York City Government WhatsApp Channel, available in both English and Spanish, to expand and enhance direct communication between the administration and New Yorkers. The Channel will provide subscribers with updates directly from the Adams administration, information about city services, and content about New York City’s communities, activities, and culture.

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): Do you need help staying warm this winter? Applications for HEAP are now open! This benefit helps households with low incomes afford to heat their homes by helping to pay for fuel, utility sources, and heating equipment replacement and repairs. Learn more about HEAP and if you qualify.

Access Primary Care with NYC Care: In partnership with NYC Care, GetCoveredNYC Specialists can help you access your health care benefits! With NYC Care, you can get a unique membership card to access health services, choose your own doctor, and get affordable medications. Learn more about accessing primary care here.

Week in Review: Watch the NYC Administration’s last Week in Review video here.

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Facebook: @NYC Mayor's Public Engagement Unit

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Website: nyc.gov/MayorsPEU

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