DSS-HRA-DHS COVID-19 UPDATE - DECEMBER 21, 2020

December 21, 2020

Dear Community Partner:

Thank you for your ongoing partnership in our shared commitment to serve New Yorkers in need during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Following our standing weekly call, we continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications which can now be found on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page.

Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

Free testing continues to be available throughout the five boroughs. Getting frequent tests should be every New Yorker's goal. Don't stop at just one test. A schedule of mobile testing locations throughout the City as well as detailed information on locations and types of testing offered at regular testing sites (including rapid testing and antibody tests) can be found here. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.

The Test-and-Trace corps has launched the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard. This dashboard displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.

NYC Test & Trace Corps has created a folder of documents for public sharing, including flyers, palm cards, holiday guidance, travel guidelines, and more. The documents are available online here.

SNAP and Cash Assistance Recertifications and Waiver Extensions

In response to our waiver extension requests to the State, OTDA has granted the extension of the following through March 31, 2021:

Signature waiver for Cash Assistance and SNAP applications and recertifications taken by DSS staff over the phone.
Telephone interviews for Cash Assistance applications and recertifications.

Additionally, on Friday, we received approval of our renewed request to the State OTDA to reinstate the recertification extension for all clients who have not received an extension previously. Details on how we will be permitted to implement this reinstated extension going forward will be provided as soon as we have them. We have also requested restoration of the flexibility to not take negative case actions for clients who do not return their Cash Assistance six-month mailer or SNAP periodic report. We continue to remain hopeful that these requests will be granted and will keep you informed as we learn more.

Housing and Community Renewal COVID Rent Relief Program Re-opened

The New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) has announced the re-opening of the COVID Rent Relief Program with expanded eligibility criteria in an effort to serve New Yorkers who many not have had the opportunity to apply during the initial round of grants or those who may have been previously ineligible. State HCR began accepting applications on December 18 and will continue accepting applications through February 1, 2021.

Residents that previously applied for COVID Rent Relief will not have to reapply to be reconsidered under the new eligibility criteria. State HCR will re-evaluate all applications that were previously denied and will issue revised determination letters to applicants.

The State Program’s eligibility criteria have been changed. Households are no longer required to have been “rent burdened” prior to the pandemic in order to qualify. Rent burden is defined by paying more than thirty percent of monthly gross income toward rent.

To qualify for this one-time subsidy, low-income renters impacted by the pandemic must meet all of the following criteria:

Must be a renter and have a primary residence in New York State
Applicants must have lost income during the period of April 1, 2020 through July 31, 2020
Before March 7, 2020, household income must have been at or below eighty percent of Area Median Income, adjusted for household size
Households must be “rent burdened” during the months they are applying for assistance (between April 1, 2020 and July 31, 2020)

For the purposes of assessing applicant income, cash benefits and unemployment benefits are both included in the calculation.

The subsidy for eligible applicants will be calculated as the difference between the household’s rent burden on March 1, 2020 and the household’s rent burden during the subsequent months of April, May, June and July of 2020. For applicants who were not considered rent burdened on March 1, 2020, the subsidy will be calculated to bring them to the thirty percent rent burden threshold.

Applications are available on the COVID Rent Relief portal on the State HCR’s website.

HEAP Emergency Benefit

The application period for Emergency HEAP benefits opens on Monday, January 4, 2021. The utility shut-off moratorium will not affect eligibility for Emergency benefits.

Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households with a heating emergency or a heat-related domestic emergency. Only one Emergency benefit of each type is available per HEAP household for the 2020-2021 season. Temporary relocation for housing emergencies and propane tank deposits to obtain new propane vendors are also available under the Emergency benefit component. Regular HEAP benefits, if available, must be utilized first to resolve heating emergencies for eligible households before an emergency HEAP grant can be obtained.

To be eligible for an Emergency benefit, applicants must meet all of the following criteria:

A Regular HEAP benefit must not be available or any credit remaining on an account is insufficient to resolve the applicant’s emergency.
The applicant must be facing a heating emergency or heat-related domestic emergency:
The applicant’s utility service is terminated or scheduled for termination;
The applicant’s electric utility service necessary to operate the primary heating equipment is terminated or scheduled for termination; and/or
The applicant is without heating fuel or has less than one quarter tank of oil, kerosene, or propane, or less than a ten-day supply of other heating fuels.
The applicant must be the customer of record for the utility or deliverable fuel account.
The applicant households must not have more than $2,000 (or $3,000 if the household contains a member age 60 or older) in available liquid resources.
Applicants in receipt of ongoing Temporary Assistance (TA) have already been resource tested.

2020-2021 HEAP Emergency Benefit Types and Amounts

Oil, Kerosene and Propane

$675

Wood, Wood Pellets, Corn, Coal or other deliverables

$525

Natural Gas, Heat Only

$350

Natural Gas Heat with Domestic Electric

$490

Electric Heat

$490

Heat-Related Electric

$140

Temporary Relocation

Maximum of $500 per program year

Propane Tank Deposit

Maximum of $500 per program year

Ordering HRA Informational and Outreach Materials Online

DSS has launched a new online ordering system for community partners to order DSS materials for distribution to clients and the public (such as our informational flyers, brochures, the HRA guide to benefits, etc.). The new system, DSS Design and Print Ordering System, replaces the Central Intake Workflow system (CIWS) that had been in use. The new system is more user friendly and simplifies the ordering process with a catalog of materials for outreach from which to order. As was the case with CIWS, each CBO requires a requestor who will register through the application located here. Shipments will be delivered directly to the organization placing the order.

Instructions to register:

Click here.
Once you are in the DSS Design and Print Ordering System, in the upper right-hand corner click on “log-in”
Follow the instructions to register as a new user. When the registration is complete, you can begin ordering.

If you have any questions regarding the launch of the DSS Design and Print Ordering System, please contact Robert Stockwell, stockwellr@dss.nyc.gov. For questions about registering or other system issues, contact CIWSCustomerServices@dss.nyc.gov.

Homeless Drop-In Centers

Drop-In Centers (DICs) are low-barrier programs specifically targeted toward unsheltered individuals who may be resistant to accepting other services, including traditional shelters. DICs are equipped with on-site services and staff who work closely with unsheltered New Yorkers to build trust, stabilize lives, and encourage further transition off the streets and into transitional and permanent housing. These facilities can often be the first step towards helping unsheltered New Yorkers back on the path to stability.

Drop-In Centers provide baseline services with the goal of meeting immediate needs for unsheltered New Yorkers, such as showers and meals. DICs also have on-site case management services and staff, providing an immediate option for individuals who want to transition off the streets.

New Yorkers who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness and residing on the streets and/or subways can visit Drop-In Centers to receive specialized services including:

Hot meals and clothing
Showers and laundry facilities
Counseling, case management services, and connections to health care, including medical care and mental health care as appropriate
Help finding a job or applying for benefits

There are DICs in each borough and all centers are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

Bronx:

The Living Room

800 Barretto Street (at Lafayette Avenue)

Open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including holidays.

By Subway: 6 train to Hunts Point Avenue

The Haven

2640 Third Ave (between East 141 Street and East 142 Street)