December 28, 2021
 

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 calls, we have continued to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page. We encourage you to use and share this link to answer questions on the many topics we have covered during the pandemic.
 
Last week’s call marks our last community briefing call of this Administration. There will be no call the week of December 27, 2021. The weekly written communication will resume during the week of January 3, 2022.
 
To be added to the distribution list for this weekly update, please send an email request to dssoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
 
We have appreciated your ongoing participation in these calls and continuing to raise important issues that we are able to address in this weekly communication of the latest information, which you can share with the clients you serve. 
 
COVID-19 Vaccination Information

On December 9, 2021 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine, authorizing the use of a single booster dose for administration to children 16 and 17 years of age at least six months after receiving their second dose of vaccination with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine.
 
As a reminder the Pfizer vaccine is now approved and available for children 5-11 years old in NYC. Children must have a parent or guardian's consent to get the vaccine. The City has created several resources to provide useful information and help promote the vaccine for children ages 5-11:

 
Vaccination sites can be found at nyc.gov/vaccinefinder or by calling 877-VAX4-NYC. New Yorkers can also text their ZIP code to 438829 to receive information on vaccination sites near them, including what age groups can be served at each site.
 
There are now temporary sites in over 1,000 schools for children 5-11 years old. School sites can be found on the DOE website. School vaccination sites at both public and charter schools are providing second doses of the vaccine for students who are eligible.

For more information about vaccines and the vaccines for children, families can go to nyc.gov/covidvaccine and see this FAQ, or call 212-COVID19 with questions about the vaccine.
 
Vaccine Booster Incentive

On December 21, the $100 incentive for New Yorkers who receive a COVID-19 vaccine was expanded. All New Yorkers who receive a COVID-19 booster at a City-run site or with SOMOS Community Care between December 21, 2021 and December 31, 2021 will be eligible for a $100 incentive. 
 
An additional $3M has been allotted to extend the NYC vaccine referral bonus program through January 2022. This referral bonus continues to be available to small businesses, restaurants, and civic organizations, including community-based organizations, faith-based organizations, and Parent-Teacher Associations. These are all eligible to receive a $100 vaccine referral bonus for each employee or customer who they refer to a City-run vaccine site for their first shot. The referred individual is still eligible to receive their own $100 bonus. To sign up for the program, businesses and organizations should use the this form.
 
More Information

The City has created a vaccine fact sheet which can be found here, and is available in additional languages here.
 
Walk-up vaccines are available at most City-operated vaccination sites. To find the nearest walk-up site, or to schedule an appointment at a City-operated site, visit vaccinefinder.nyc.gov. NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses continue to provide vaccines. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here.
 
Flu vaccines are available at City-operated vaccination sites and can be administered at the same time as the COVID-19 vaccine. Locations can be found at the NYC Vaccine Finder website

Vaccination and Testing Apps

New Yorkers can meet vaccine and/or testing requirements with:
 
  • CDC Vaccination Card. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable.
  • NYC Vaccination Record or other official immunization record, including from a health care provider. A digital photo or photocopy of this card is also acceptable. If you are unable to get this record, call 311.
  • NYC COVID Safe App. Android. iOS. This app can be used to upload a photo of a vaccine card and/or a recent COVID test. The vaccine card will stay on the app unless removed, but test results will disappear from the app after seven days.
  • CLEAR Health Pass. Android. iOS. Individuals can use the digital vaccine card option in the CLEAR app if they are age 18 or older and are fully vaccinated.
  • NYS Excelsior Pass (or Excelsior Pass Plus). Allows an individual to find and store proof of vaccination right on their phone with a QR code, or to print out their QR code instead. New York residents who were vaccinated out of State can learn more about their options at the Excelsior Pass FAQ. The app, called NYS Excelsior Pass Wallet, is available for download on iPhone and Android phones.
 
Vaccine Records

Individuals who are fully vaccinated but have lost their COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card or need verification of their vaccine status can request a copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record. Individuals cannot get a replacement COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card at this time but can get an official record noting they have been vaccinated. For more information and to submit a request visit: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/doh/services/cir-parents-guardians.page
 
Individuals can access all vaccine records, not just COVID 19 vaccines. Please visit the My Vaccine Record website.
 
COVID-19 Testing
 
On December 20, Mayor de Blasio announced that in addition to the 89 testing sites currently operating, the City is adding 23 new sites, including 3 mobile sites and 20 brick and mortar sites. We will share more information as it becomes available. 

Sen. Chuck Schumer announced six new sites funded by FEMA opening in Queens. The City added seven city-run sites, bringing the total of permanent and mobile sites to 119. Five of the City’s mobile testing locations are also handing out rapid tests to those who need them. Click here for New York City’s testing site locator, including mobile sites and at-home appointments
 
Walk-in Covid-19 PCR tests will be offered 7 days a week beginning Monday, Dec. 27, at the Times Square and Grand Central subway stations. Both are state-funded sites.

Times Square hours: 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Grand Central hours: 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
 
As of Wednesday, December 22, the CDC has deployed mobile testing units to New York City, providing an additional 25,000 weekly test to New Yorkers.
 
These sites are located at:

Travers Park
76-9 34th St.
Queens, NY 11372
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Queens Valley Playground
Corner of 137 Street & 77 Ave.
Flushing NY 11367
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Helen Marshall Playground
100 St & 24th Ave.
East Elmhurst, NY 11369
9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
 
Additional CDC ICATT mobile testing units are being added. Please visit NYC.gov/covidtest for the most up to date information on where testing is available in your area.

Free in-home COVID PCR testing is available for all immunocompromised New Yorkers and people 65+. Call 929-298-9400 to schedule an appointment.
 
Free testing continues to be available throughout the five boroughs. 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. Locations of testing sites can also be accessed by texting “COVID TEST” to 855-48. These are no cost testing sites open to all New Yorkers.
 
The Test-and-Trace Corps offers the COVID 19 Wait Times Dashboard, which displays estimated wait times for NYC Health + Hospitals COVID-19 testing locations. This wait time information is updated by site staff every two hours.
 
Testing for All - Distribution of Rapid Self-Testing Kits and KN95 Masks to CBOs
 
The NYC Test & Trace Corps, NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and NYC Care have launched the At-Home Test Kit & Mask Distribution Program to distribute 500,000 rapid antigen self-testing kits and 1 million KN95 masks to community-based organizations across New York City. Community partners that enroll in the Program will receive a regular allocation of self-test kits and KN95 masks to distribute at no-charge to the communities they serve. The program started with 150 organizations, and will continue to add partners in the coming weeks. There is a Google sign-up form for organizations to express interest. A link to the form can be found at:

Health and Hospitals – Suspension of Patient Visitation
 
The New York City Health + Hospitals temporarily suspended patient visitations systemwide to protect its public hospital workers and patients from the variant. There are exceptions, including when a visit is medically necessary, if a patient is in an end-of-life situation or in labor, a pediatric patient or an infant in the neonatal ICU. In those cases, visitors must show proof of vaccination or a negative test within 48 hours.
 
State Waiver Extensions
 
OTDA has extended the following waivers through March 31, 2022, or the end of the month after which the public health emergency declaration ends, whichever is earlier:
 
  • Permission to submit SNAP and Cash Assistance applications and recertifications by telephone with HRA staff.
  • Partial interview waiver for SNAP
 
Medicaid Surplus Cases
 
In accordance with State DOH requirements, Medicaid surplus consumers must continue to meet their surplus requirement during the COVID-19 health emergency. Surplus consumers can continue to submit medical bills to cover their surplus by mail or fax.
 
HRA Medicaid Surplus Unit
785 Atlantic Avenue
Brooklyn NY 11238; or
Fax: 917-639-0645
 
Payment may also be submitted to the HRA Division of Accounts Receivable and Billing (DARB) at 150 Greenwich Street, 34th Floor, NY NY 10007. Those who submit payment to DARB must then call the Surplus Hotline at 929-221-0835 to report that a payment has been made and provide case information.
 
Medicaid consumers who cannot submit payment or bills because of health issues related to COVID-19 can call the Surplus Hotline at 929-221-0835 to attest that they have the money or the bills to satisfy their surplus but are unable to submit them.
 
For Medicaid consumers who have lost income, they should have their case re-budgeted, which may lower or eliminate their surplus in some instances. Proof of a change in income should be faxed to 917-639-0645.
 
Upcoming City Holiday
 
As a reminder, DSS-HRA-DHS offices, including client-facing, walk-in locations, will be closed on Friday, December 31.
 
Utility Service Terminations Holiday Moratorium
 
Each year, all Public Service Commission (PSC) regulated utility companies are required to suspend service terminations for residential natural gas and electricity for the two-week period encompassing the Christmas and New Year holidays. Each utility company establishes its own schedule, which is outlined below:
 
2021-2022 New York State Service Termination Moratorium Schedule
 
Con Edison – December 20, 2021 to January 2, 2022
National Fuel (NFG) – December 19, 2021 to January 2, 2022
National Grid–Metro – December 19, 2021 to January 1, 2022
NYS Electric & Gas (NYSEG) – December 20, 2021 to January 1, 2022
PSEG – December 19, 2021 to January 2, 2022
 
Municipal electric companies, which are not regulated by the PSC, will have a moratorium period in effect from December 20, 2021 through January 3, 2022.
 
HEAP applicants whose utility service was terminated prior to the moratorium period, but who applied for a Regular HEAP benefit during that period, must still have their eligibility determined. If they are eligible, a guarantee of payment must be made to the utility company to restore service.
 
Temporary Assistance applicants or recipients who are scheduled for termination or whose service was terminated prior to the moratorium period must be referred to HEAP.
 
Eviction and Utility Moratoriums
 
The utility moratorium (utility shut offs) enacted by NYS for COVID-19 ended on December 21, 2021. 
 
The NYS eviction moratorium was extended until January 15, 2022, and has not been further extended at this time. Tenants who have submitted the Hardship Declaration should respond to any court notices they receive indicating that their case is scheduled for a Housing Court hearing.

Free legal advice and other assistance continues to be available to all New York City residential renters through HRA’s Office of Civil Justice, which can be reached by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline. 
 
Social Security Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) 2022
 
As a reminder, Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) beneficiaries will receive a 5.9 percent increase in benefits for 2022, amounting to an additional $92 per month for the average retired worker. The Social Security Administration is mailing COLA notices throughout December 2021 to retirement, survivors and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. Individuals who prefer to access their COLA notice online instead of the mailed notice can log in to their personal my Social Security account to opt-out of a mailed COLA notice. The Social Security Administration has published a fact sheet with more information, accessible here.
 
State OTDA executed mass re-budgets for CA/SNAP and SNAP-only households impacted by the COLA increase along with a Notice of Mass Change to explain the impact of the COLA increase on their benefits.
 
Additionally, due to the annual Supplemental Security Income (SSI) cost of living adjustment (COLA) that is effective January 1, 2022, OTDA has announced changes in the New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) standardized benefit levels and in the shelter cost threshold to be considered a high shelter cost. More information is available here.
 
Emergency SNAP Allotments
 
As it has in previous months, the State Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA) will issue an emergency SNAP supplement to households who are issued SNAP benefits for December 2021. The emergency allotment will be the difference between their budgeted allotment and the maximum allotment for their household size or $95, whichever is greater. Further information is available here. As a reminder, these benefits are not on a regular schedule. If clients want to know when their emergency SNAP allotments are available, they can check their available SNAP balance at https://otda.ny.gov/workingfamilies/ebt/.

HEAP Emergency Benefit
 
As we reported last week, beginning on January 3, 2022, applications for HEAP Emergency benefits can be submitted to OTDA. Emergency benefits are available to assist eligible households with a heating emergency or a heat-related domestic emergency. Below are additional details on the program.
 
All applicants for the HEAP Emergency benefit component may apply via telephone as well as in person at their local Job Center. Applications may not be submitted online.

  • Only one Emergency benefit of each type is available per HEAP household for the 2021-2022 season. 
  • Regular component benefits, if available, must be utilized first to resolve heating emergencies for eligible households. 
  • Temporary relocation for housing emergencies and propane tank deposits to obtain new propane vendors are also available under the Emergency benefit component. 

Individuals may be eligible for an Emergency HEAP benefit if:

  • Electricity is necessary for the heating system or thermostat to work and is either shut-off or scheduled to be shut off; or
  • Electric or natural gas heat is off or scheduled to be shut-off; or
  • An individual is out of fuel or, has less than one quarter tank of fuel oil, kerosene or propane or has less than a ten (10) day supply of wood, wood pellets, corn, or other deliverable heat source.
and
  • Income is at or below the current income guidelines as outlined here or an applicant receives Family Assistance, Safety Net Assistance, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance (SNAP) or Code A Supplemental Security Income.
  • The heating and/or electric bill is in the applicants name; and
  • The applicant’s household available resources are:
  • less than $2,000 if no member of the household is age 60 or older; or
  • less than $3,000 if any member of the household is age 60 or older.

Learn more at the OTDA HEAP webpage and the HRA webpage
 
For more information on eligibility and applying for HEAP benefits, visit http://otda.ny.gov/programs/heap/.
 
New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP)

The New York State Combined Application Project (NYSCAP) began on December 1, 2021. NYSCAP is a replacement to the New York State Nutrition Improvement Project (NYSNIP) with the programs running concurrently through 2023 at which point all current NYSNIP cases will have been converted to NYSCAP. The goal of this Federal SNAP Demonstration project is to establish a combined application process with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and to use data readily available to State OTDA to automatically enroll certain SSI households into SNAP.

The NYSCAP automatic auto-enrollment process is the same as the auto-enrollment process for NYSNIP. Single individuals in active receipt of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) who do not already have a SNAP case will have a SNAP case automatically created and will be automatically enrolled in NYSCAP. Individuals that meet these conditions and already have an active SNAP case also will be enrolled in NYSCAP.

As in NYSNIP, NYSCAP cases:

  • Do not have to submit an application to be enrolled in SNAP.
  • Will be opened and will receive a nominal SNAP benefit amount.
  • Will receive a NYSCAP Statewide SNAP Case Information Collection Sheet with their opening letter. There is no requirement to return the form, and failure to return it to the district will not result in negative action. It is provided to make it easier for newly enrolled households to qualify for higher benefits.
  • Must redeem SNAP benefits within 90 days of the auto-opening. Redemption of the benefits is considered an electronic application signature and assent by the household to participate in SNAP. NYSCAP cases in which benefits are not accessed within 90 days are automatically closed and the benefits expunged.
  • Do not have any reporting requirements outside of the required interim contact. However, because NYSCAP cases receive a 36-month (and not a 48-month) certification period, the Interim Contact for NYSCAP is at 18 months into the certification period. Households must return the Case Interim Report to continue receiving NYSCAP benefits.
  • Households that fail to return the Interim Report but subsequently return it within 30 days of case closure are eligible for the normal case reactivation process.

Unlike NYSNIP, NYSCAP eligible cases:

  • Must participate in NYSCAP in order to receive SNAP.
  • Will receive a 36-month certification period.
  • Will be opened with the household’s actual SSI and other income budgeted, but with no shelter, Will automatically receive a reminder notice 6 months after opening if the SNAP budget has not been updated. This will provide the household with another opportunity to provide the district with the complete household circumstances to maximize the household’s SNAP benefit. Households that do not respond to this notice will not be subject to negative action, however the household will remain in receipt of a nominal benefit.

NYSCAP Budgeting:

NYSCAP cases will be budgeted according to regular SNAP budgeting rules once information required for the budget (e.g., shelter expense) is provided. Note that NYSCAP cases may attest to the shelter expenses without the need to provide further verification, unless the information provided is deemed questionable.

Interim Contact:

At approximately 18 months into the certification period, NYSCAP households will receive the updated Interim Report which collects all the information about the household circumstances that is required to complete a budget using standard SNAP budgeting procedures. Households are required to respond to the Interim Report and failure to do so will result in case closure.
 
Recertification:

NYSCAP cases are eligible to recertify over the phone using the interactive voice response system (IVRS). Failing to recertify will result in the case closing.  
 
Student Loan Payment Pause Extended through May 1, 2022
 
On December 22, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education extended the student loan payment pause through May 1, 2022. 
 
The pause includes the following relief measures for eligible loans:
  • a suspension of loan payments
  • a 0% interest rate
  • stopped collections on defaulted loans
 
Borrowers are advised not to accept unexpected offers of financial aid or help (such as “pandemic grant” or “Biden loan forgiveness”) Learn how to avoid scams.
 
NYS Private Health Insurance Application Deadline for 2022
 
The open enrollment period for New Yorkers to enroll in private health insurance coverage for 2022 is January 31, 2022. Callers can visit www.nystateofhealth.ny.gov for more information. 
 
Childcare Payment Waivers Extended

The Office of Children and Family Services has extended two ACS childcare waivers, allowing HRA to provide payment for an unlimited number of absences and program closures. The waivers, which were were due to end December 31, are now extended through January 2022. The waivers apply to both contract and voucher programs including Day Care Centers, Group Family Day Care, Family Day Care, Legally-Exempt Group Programs, and School Age Child Care. Legally-exempt family child care and in-home child care providers are not eligible to receive payment for program closures, but are eligible for payment for absences.
 
Medicaid Eligibility for Evacuees from Afghanistan
 
Effective September 30, 2021, for a limited time the federal government is providing evacuees from Afghanistan who enter the United States on humanitarian parole access to federal benefits and services through the Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022. Citizens or nationals of Afghanistan, or individuals with no nationality who last resided in Afghanistan, may be eligible for benefits if they have completed the US Department of Homeland Security’s background checks, their parole has not been terminated by US DHS, and if they were:

  • Paroled into the U.S. between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022, or
  • Paroled into the U.S. after September 30, 2022, and are:
  • The spouse or child of an evacuee from Afghanistan paroled between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022, or
  • The parent or legal guardian of an unaccompanied child paroled between July 31, 2021 and September 30, 2022.

The Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2022 allows these individuals to receive benefits, if otherwise eligible, for a limited time, either through March 31, 2023, or until the end of their parole term, whichever is later.

New York State Homeowners Assistance Fund
 
New York State has launched the Homeowners Assistance Fund to provide up to $539 million to help eligible homeowners prevent mortgage delinquency, default, foreclosure, and displacement. Applications will be accepted beginning on Monday, January 3, 2022. 
 
Designed and administered by New York State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), the NYS Homeowners Assistance Fund (HAF) will target low- to moderate-income homeowners who are behind on mortgage payments, property taxes, water or sewer bills, as well as owners of cooperative or condo units behind on maintenance fees, and manufactured homeowners behind on chattel loans or retail installment contracts.
 
Eligible applicants may receive financial assistance to catch up on missed housing payments, to reduce mortgage debt to make monthly mortgage payments more affordable, and for homeowners who are unemployed, assistance with up to six months of future housing payments.

Eligible applicants must have household incomes at or below 100 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and must be at least 30 days delinquent on monthly housing payments for their primary residence. Awards will be capped at $50,000 per household. Assistance will be structured as a five-year, non-interest, non-amortizing forgivable loan. If the homeowner remains in the home for a period of five years, the loan will be fully forgiven.
 
The Homeowners Assistance Fund website can be found at https://www.nyhomeownerfund.org/. Those who are interested can sign up to be notified when the applications open. The website also has links to an application guide and a list of documents needed to apply.  

NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave
 
The NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law went into effect on January 1, 2021 and has been expanded as of December 24, 2021 to include additional leave for parents to get children vaccinated. The amended paid sick leave law now provides private sector employees who are covered by the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law with an extra four hours of paid leave per child under the age of 18, per vaccine injection. The time can be used to take their child to get vaccinated or to care for their child if they experience any side effects from the vaccine
 
The leave is retroactive to November 2, the day when the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) approved vaccines for children 5-11 years old.
 
As a reminder, under New York City’s Earned Safe and Sick Time Act (Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law), covered employees have the right to use safe and sick leave for the care and treatment of themselves or a family member, to seek legal and social services assistance, and more:

  • Employers with 100 or more employees in New York State must provide up to 56 hours of paid leave.
  • Employers with four or fewer employees in New York State that have a net income of $1 million or more must now provide PAID leave despite their size.
  • Employers must provide domestic workers with 40 hours of paid safe and sick leave.
  • Employers must allow employees to use safe and sick leave as it is accrued, with no waiting period for new hires.
  • Employers can require documentation when employees use more than three workdays in a row for safe and sick leave; and employers must reimburse employees for any fees paid for the required documentation.
  • Employers must inform employees of their accrued, used, and total leave balances on a document issued each pay period (e.g., paystub) or through an employee-accessible electronic system.
 
Employers and employees can visit nyc.gov/workers or call 311 for more information about the NYC Paid Safe and Sick Leave Law, including the required Notice of Employee of Rights, which is available in 26 languages, one-page overviews for employers and employees, and the complaint form.

The COVID-19 and Paid Sick Leave flyer has been updated with this information and is available in English online: https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/dca/downloads/pdf/workers/COVID-19-Paid-Sick-Leave-English.pdf
 
 
Additional information:

Child Support – Family Court
 
The Family Court is open for child support matters and is accepting establishment, modification and enforcement petitions. To receive the latest information, please go to 
 
Those who were unable to file a petition during the pandemic should inform the support magistrate. 
 
NYC Taskforce for Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE) - Neighborhood Coalition Initiative
 
The City is investing $1.3M to support recovery in the 33 neighborhoods hardest hit by COVID-19. Partners in this citywide Neighborhood Coalition initiative are the NYC Taskforce for Racial Inclusion and Equity (TRIE), the Civic Engagement Commission, and the Young Men’s Initiative.
 
Residents living, working, or going to school in one of these communities are invited to vote on how to spend the $40,000 of public funds allocated to each of these neighborhoods. These investments will support communities and contribute to a more fair recovery. The ballot items include projects focused on priority areas identified by residents in each community, including mental health, reducing gun violence, youth programming, and hunger.
 
The voting process is open through January 17, 2022. The City is asking community partners for help in publicizing the open voting in these communities. A toolkit with multilingual social media graphics and outreach materials may be found here.  
 
Public High School and Middle School Applications
 
The public middle and high school application process will start in January 2022. Below are key deadlines and important information about the process:

  • Middle school applications will open the week of 1/10 and close the week of 2/28.
  • High school applications will open the week of 1/24 and close the week of 2/28.
  • Offers will be sent in May.
  • Middle schools won’t be allowed to use academic screens, but high schools can. The only screening criteria will be first semester grades from this school year and a work sample (no attendance or state test scores). The screening process will also be managed centrally, rather than by individual schools.
  • High schools will be allowed to use borough and zone geographic priorities.
 
Kindergarten Application – Now Open

The kindergarten application for New York City families is now open. Those who live in New York City and have a child born in 2017 need to apply by January 18, 2022

Applicants need to complete and submit the kindergarten application in one of three ways by the January 19, 2022 deadline:

  1. Online with MySchools.nyc This is the recommended process. Parents can use MySchools to search for elementary schools, apply to kindergarten, and receive the child’s school placement offer. Parents can use video tutorials on how to create a MySchools account and how to apply.
  2. By phone at 718-935-2009, Monday-Friday between 8am and 6pm.
  3. By email or in person at a Family Welcome Center. Learn how at schools.nyc.gov/FWC.
 
Parents can list up to 12 school choices on their child’s application. Please note that kindergarten admission is not first come, first served: there is no advantage to applying early, and all applications received by the deadline are treated equally.

For the latest information about kindergarten admissions, visit the DOE website. Questions? Call 718-935-2009 or email ESEnrollment@schools.nyc.gov.
 
HHS and HUD announce new Housing and Services Resource Center
 
On December 8, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced the launch of a national Housing and Services Resource Center (HSRC) as the hub of their coordinated federal effort to improve access to affordable, accessible housing and the critical services that make community living possible.
 
The Housing and Services Resource Center will implement a federally coordinated approach to providing resources, program guidance, training, and technical assistance to public housing authorities and housing providers; state Medicaid, disability, aging and behavioral health agencies; the aging and disability networks; homeless services organizations and networks; health care systems and providers; and tribal organizations. 
 
The Housing and Services Resource Center also aims to facilitate state and local partnerships between housing and service systems and assist communities in leveraging new housing and service resources available through the American Rescue Plan and, when it passes, through the Build Back Better Act. View the release on HHS.gov.
 
Community-wide Conference Call
 
We have appreciated your continued participation on our weekly briefing calls and your ongoing work to help make sure that the critical information and details about changes we are making in response to the pandemic are being communicated to our clients. Your active engagement throughout this process has been appreciated, and your questions and suggestions have helped us to better understand the needs of those we serve and respond accordingly. 
 
The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared on our weekly call as well as new developments. All of the information included in each of our prior communications, since March 2020, is available on our website on the COVID-19 Community Updates page. If you would like to reference a specific prior communication, links to each of the prior communications can be found on the community updates page. These communications will continue to provide weekly updates moving forward..
 
It has been an honor to lead this essential dialogue on a weekly basis. Starting before the pandemic and continuing to this point, together we have made substantial progress from where we began in 2014 – and at the same time, we know that there is much more work to be done for clients. 
 
As always, thank you for your continued partnership in serving New Yorkers in need, particularly during this time when our clients have needed us more than ever. If you have any questions or concerns about the changes we have made and are continuing to develop to address the COVID pandemic, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Office of Advocacy and Outreach at DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
 
Sincerely,
 
 
Steven Banks
DSS Commissioner
New York City Department of Social Services