Preview - What's New at PEU - October 2024

Hello neighbors and friends –

This month, we’re excited to bring you key resources and updates to help you stay informed and protected as a resident, tenant, and homeowner in NYC. Whether you’re looking to learn more about housing, save money, stay warm this winter, or understand your rights, we’ve got you covered.

Plus, rent guidelines just changed this month, so we’re shining a spotlight on rent stabilization to catch you up to speed – you don’t want to miss this!

In a New York state of mind 🗽,

The Public Engagement Unit

Top 4️⃣ Resources We're Sharing this Month

Housing Information Classes

Learn about housing issues in NYC with HPD’s free virtual classes on Zoom. Open to tenants, homeowners, and property managers, these expert-led sessions cover a range of housing topics. Learn more and register here.

Heat Season

Heat season has begun and will last through May 31. During this time, tenants without heat or hot water should contact their building management or file a complaint with 311 if the issue isn’t resolved.

Behavioral Healthcare

In NYC, you can get behavioral health support from professionals like social workers, doctors, and counselors in hospitals, clinics, or private practices. For free, confidential help, call or text NYC 988 or visit the NYC 988 website.

Access Benefits in NYC

There are over 70 programs available to help New Yorkers save time and money, but many people are unaware of them. Thousands of people are still eligible, leaving many programs underused. Following a campaign launch last month, our team is conducting outreach days of action every Saturday to connect New Yorkers to resources. Learn more about money-saving resources here.

Program Spotlight:

Rent Increase Limits and Other Rights for Rent-Stabilized Tenants

Rent stabilization is a form of rent regulation; it helps combat the City’s housing crisis by limiting rent increases and making sure some units remain affordable. As of earlier this month, October 1, rent stabilized apartment leases can include legal rent increases of up to 2.75% for a 1-year lease and 5.25% for a 2-year lease; these will last for all leases signed through September 30, 2025. Learn more from the Rent Guidelines Board.

Rent stabilized tenants are protected against increases that go beyond these rates and are encouraged to connect with our Tenant Support Unit (TSU) if they believe they are being overcharged on rent.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for rent stabilized New Yorkers to call our Tenant Helpline with rent increase issues, often without realizing that they are being overcharged. Recently, an older woman who had been in her apartment for over 20 years called us for help. Her building’s ownership had changed and her new landlord was increasing her rent to an amount she was unable to pay. After determining her apartment was rent stabilized, our Specialist educated this elder tenant about her rights and counseled her as she conferred with her landlord. After getting support from our Helpline and advocating for herself with her landlord, this client’s rent was readjusted back to the legal, and more affordable, rent and she now continues to live securely in her home.

To proactively reach more New Yorkers like this one, TSU has knocked on nearly 50,000 doors just this year so far through data-driven outreach, in addition to the thousands more we help through our Helpline and Rent Freeze program. Our TSU staff meet people at their doors to inform them of their rights such as rent increase limits in rent stabilized units, laws against landlord harassment, eviction prevention, general tenant protection, and more to help them stay in their homes. The live call launch of our Tenant Helpline last year (included in the recently released FY 2024 Mayor’s Management Report) increased our capacity to serve rent regulated and unregulated tenants alike.

City laws provide additional protections to rent stabilized tenants, including the right to a renewal lease, succession rights, and more. Learn more about rent stabilization here. Not sure if your home is rent stabilized? Reach out to our team or learn more about how to check here.

Older adults and New Yorkers with disabilities living in rent stabilized units may also qualify to avoid these rent increases with the city’s Rent Freeze program.

PEU - WHO ⭐ Staff Spotlight

Meet Garfield, a Specialist on our Special Projects Team.

What inspires you to do the work that you do?

For me, the inspiration comes from the opportunity to help people by providing valuable information and support. It's about making a positive impact on individuals' lives, our work in public engagement aims to improve the community and address the needs of residents.

Can you share a story about a memorable experience you've had helping someone in need through your work?

While conducting outreach, I recently met a 47-year-old man originally from Ghana who has faced many challenges since moving to the Bronx, particularly in terms of finding stable housing. When I met Samuel, he was staying in a motel with his wife. Despite everything, Samuel’s faith keeps him hopeful. After completing a benefits access screening, I found him a temporary housing solution and connected him to more resources. Like so many New Yorkers who our team meets every day, Samuel’s resilience and determination, despite his hardships, were truly inspiring. It’s moments like these, being able to provide even a small step toward stability for someone in need, that make this work incredibly rewarding.

In the News 🗞️

CUNY Career Launch Interns completed more than 6,500 hours of outreach across the five boroughs with Mayor's Public Engagement Unit

Read more here

About 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.

If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please (Unsubscribing is not supported in previews).