Preview - What's New at PEU - November 2024

Hello neighbors and friends –

Fall is here, leaves are changing, and our team is taking advantage of the good weather to meet New Yorkers where they are with resources that make New York City more affordable. We're also spotlighting health plan updates to help New Yorkers save on essential care. Check out this issue for all the details.

Election Day is tomorrow — your chance to make your voice heard. Learn about what’s on the ballot this year, find your polling site (it could be different!), and vote tomorrow. There’s another chance to vote this November: any New Yorker over the age of 10 can join in on the City’s participatory budgeting process!

In a New York state of mind 🗽,

The Public Engagement Unit

Top 4️⃣ Resources We're Sharing this Month

City of Yes

The City is taking steps to address the housing crisis through the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity initiative. On October 29th, the City hosted an inter-agency Day of Action to educate New Yorkers about how this proposed initiative intends to “build a little more housing in every neighborhood” and share other housing resources that the City offers today.

Citi Bike Discount Program

The Citi Bike Discount Program offers affordable access to bikes for eligible NYC residents. For just $5/month, members can enjoy unlimited classic rides and discounted e-bike rates. Learn more and spread the word.

SNAP Skimming

Skimming is when thieves steal benefits by electronically copying EBT cards, even if the cards have never been lost. If New Yorkers' SNAP or Cash Assistance benefits have been stolen, they should file a claim online as soon as possible.

Early Childhood Learning

NYC provides high-quality early childhood care and education for children from birth to 5 years old through programs like Pre-K for All, 3-K for All, and EarlyLearn. These programs offer families the opportunity to give their children a strong start in school and life. Our team has been busy this month conducting outreach to help families connect to childcare vouchers and available seats. Learn more and apply online.

Program Spotlight:

Expansions to Qualified Health Plans & Time to Enroll!

For the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic, the New York State Open Enrollment Period has begun, with a few key updates that New Yorkers should be aware of, namely:

Consumers are about to pay a lot less for diabetes and pregnancy services: With new cost-sharing initiatives starting on January 1, 2025, New Yorkers with Qualified Health Plans will be expected to pay zero out-of-pocket costs for most diabetes and pregnancy services.

DACA recipients can now enroll in Qualified Health Plans: thanks to policy passed earlier this year, people with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrival (DACA) status can sign up for health insurance through the Marketplace as of this month. Learn more about DACA recipients and Qualified Health Plan eligibility.

Before, during, and after Open Enrollment, GetCoveredNYC Specialists are here to help New Yorkers better understand all the intricacies of health insurance options in NYC. Since April of this year, the team has made over 100,000 texts and phone calls to connect New Yorkers to health coverage and other health-related resources, and to spread the word about how they may benefit from recent insurance expansions. We have also partnered with faith-based institutions, food pantries, community based organizations, and more to attend over 600 events and office hours to support thousands of New Yorkers with health care.

Open Enrollment started at the beginning of this month and lasts through January 2025. During the NY State of Health Marketplace Open Enrollment Period, people can sign up for, renew, or change their health insurance plans. Anyone looking for help should reach out to our GetCoveredNYC team.

We’re urging New Yorkers to enroll in health insurance by December 15th for coverage starting January 1st. Help us spread the word!

PEU - WHO ⭐ Staff Spotlight

Meet Tyeast Venning, a Specialist in our Home Support Unit (HSU). HSU works with rental owners, real estate agents, and property managers to lease vacant apartments to qualified New Yorkers. Work with HSU.

What motivates you to do the work that you do?

It’s incredibly rewarding to know that my work contributes to providing more than just a roof—it’s about offering a fresh start in someone’s life journey. I'm grateful to have a career that aligns with my core values, allowing me to make a positive impact while truly loving what I do.

Can you share an experience that inspired you in your work?

I recently had the opportunity to collaborate with a colleague who referred a shelter resident in need of a three-bedroom unit. Working with landlords and brokers allows us to secure “forever homes” for families like this one. I connected with several brokers, our colleagues at DHS, and utilized HSU's extensive inventory of large family units to find the right fit. Through persistent outreach to brokers and coordinated viewings, she successfully secured an apartment and is moving in today, November 1st! It was incredibly rewarding to help her achieve her goal of settling in before Thanksgiving.

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.

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