July 6, 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 call, we continue to share important updates as well as an ongoing synopsis of the information shared in prior communications which can be found on our DSS COVID-19 Community Updates page.
COVID-19 Vaccination Updates
On Wednesday, June 23rd, NYC announced that all New Yorkers age 12 and older are eligible for the in-home vaccination program, effective immediately. In-home vaccination requests can be made by going to nyc.gov/homevaccine or calling 877-VAX-4NYC.
For a limited time, New Yorkers can get free tickets, memberships, and gifts for getting vaccinated against COVID-19. When New Yorkers receive their first vaccine dose at a New York City-run vaccine location, they will be eligible to choose one of the incentives listed here. Once their first COVID-19 vaccine dose is complete, they will receive an email with instructions on how to select their incentive and enter the contest. Visit the Vaccine Incentives website here or call 877-VAX4NYC (877-829-4692) to learn more.
NYC is offering an incentive to community and faith-based organizations to help get people vaccinated by awarding $100 for each referral for each first dose at a City-run site. When an individual makes an appointment ahead of time or arrives for a walk-in vaccination, they can identify which community organization referred them to get vaccinated. Once they receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, the referral organization will be credited $100 after the program ends. Organizations can earn up to $20,000 each. Interested organizations must sign up at nyc.gov/vaccinereferralbonus.
NYC Mobile Vaccine Buses continue to provide vaccines in Brooklyn, the Bronx, Manhattan, and Queens. The full schedule of mobile vaccine locations can be found online here. Walk-ups are welcome and you can also book in advance through the Vax4NYC website.
As a reminder, New Yorkers ages 12 years and older can continue to receive their COVID-19 vaccine without an appointment at select sites across NYC. Sites can be found here. New Yorkers are required to provide proof of age and residency in order to receive the vaccine. Additional information can be found here.
While walk-up vaccines are available at City-operated vaccination sites, appointments can still be made by using vaccinefinder.nyc.gov.
COVID-19 Testing
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.
Cooling Centers and Extreme Heat Information
New York City has begun opening cooling centers throughout the five boroughs during high heat days. Everyone at City-operated cooling centers must wear face coverings and adhere to social distancing guidelines. To find a cooling center, including accessible facilities closest to you, call 311 (212-639-9675 for Video Relay Service, or TTY: 212-504-4115) or visit the City’s Cooling Center Finder. Additionally, a citywide map of outdoor cooling options (including spray showers, drinking fountains, and more) can be found online at Cool It! NYC.
During extreme heat, the Department of Social Services (DSS) issues a Code Red Alert. During Code Reds, shelter is available to anyone experiencing homelessness.
To prepare for future hot weather, eligible New Yorkers can also obtain free air conditioners, including installation, through the New York State Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP). More information on HEAP eligibility and how to apply can be found below, at this website, or by calling 311 and asking about the cooling assistance benefit.
HEAP Cooling Assistance Component (CAC)
The HEAP Cooling Assistance Component (CAC) benefits are available to eligible New Yorkers on a first-come first-served basis through Tuesday, August 31, 2021, or until funding allocated to this component by the State is exhausted. Learn more and apply here.
As a reminder, to be eligible for a CAC benefit, the applicant or a household member must have a documented medical condition that is exacerbated by extreme heat. Requirements for medical documentation for a CAC benefit may be waived for applicants who are unable to obtain such documentation due to COVID-19. Additionally, the applicant household must not have a working air conditioner newer than five years old or must not have received a HEAP-funded air conditioner within the past five years.
New Yorkers may be eligible if they meet the following criteria:
- All members of household are U.S. citizens, U.S. citizen nationals, or “qualified aliens” as defined in federal law; and
- Each household member has a valid Social Security number; and
- Household receives SNAP benefits, Cash Assistance, or Supplemental Security Income; or
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Monthly household income is at or below the HEAP income guidelines.
New Yorkers may be eligible for HEAP even if they own their own home, pay for utilities as a part of their rent, or have money in the bank, stocks, bonds, or other resources.
The State OTDA has created a new outreach flyer to promote the HEAP Cooling Assistance Component. The flyer briefly outlines eligibility guidelines and provides information on how to apply. Please share the flyer widely with potentially eligible clients and constituents. Download the new flyer here.
Cash Assistance Six-Month Mailers and SNAP Periodic Reports
The State OTDA has denied HRA’s request to extend our authority to refrain from taking negative actions on cases where clients did not return their Cash Assistance six-month mailer or SNAP periodic report. Therefore, after June 30th, 2021, HRA is required to resume taking negative action if a Cash Assistance client does not return the Cash Assistance six-month mailer or a SNAP client does not return the SNAP periodic report. If a client does not return the form they receive, their case will close. As a reminder, in addition to mailing the forms back, Cash Assistance clients can take pictures of their completed and signed six-month mailer and upload it through the ACCESS HRA mobile app. SNAP clients can complete their Periodic Report on the ACCESS HRA website or mobile app.
Waiver Extension Updates
State OTDA has extended the following waivers through close of business on September 30, 2021:
- Allowing Temporary Assistance (TA) eligibility interviews to be conducted by phone;
- Allowing TA recertification interviews to be conducted by phone;
- Allowing drug/alcohol and domestic violence screenings to be conducted over the phone;
- Extending domestic violence waivers;
- Enabling districts with local procedures or other processes that require frequent contact with individuals experiencing homelessness and residing in emergency housing to conduct these contacts via phone, with reduced frequency, as appropriate for the population; and
- Allowing temporary modifications to previously approved Case Supervisor Review (CSR) plans
We have requested extensions of waivers that are due to expire on the following dates:
July 20, 2021
- Waiver that provides for OTDA to suppress Income Savings Plan (ISP) notices, and DSS to apply good cause universally for clients who do not contribute to the savings plan.
July 31, 2021
- SNAP partial interview waiver; and
- Telephonic signature waiver for Cash Assistance and SNAP applications and recertifications conducted over the phone by HRA staff, which can also be used for State FHEPS applications.
FEMA Funeral Reimbursement Policy Update
For certain cases, the Federal Emergency Management Agency now accepts applications for the COVID-19 Funeral Reimbursement program even if the death certificate provided with the application does not identify COVID-19 as the cause of death. This policy change applies to fatalities that occurred between January 20 and May 16, 2020. For applications that correspond to fatalities occurring during this time period, FEMA will accept a statement or letter from the certifying official, medical examiner, or coroner of the death certificate that attributes the death to COVID-19. Learn more on the FEMA website.
Camp Fees for Cash Assistance Recipients
The State OTDA has expanded eligibility for camp fees to children in receipt of Safety Net Assistance (SNA) effective June 30, 2021.
Previously, allowances for camp fees were only allowable on Family Assistance (FA) cases. The expansion allows camp fees to be paid for children in receipt of SNA as well, provided that funds cannot be obtained from other sources. The allowance for camp fees remains unchanged at $400.00 per year, not to exceed $200.00 per week.
NYS Gender Recognition Act
On June 24, 2021, the tenth anniversary of New York State's Marriage Equality Act, Governor Cuomo signed into law the Gender Recognition Act. This new law makes significant progress in New York State's official recognition of transgender, intersex, and non-binary identities.
Some key changes authorized by the Act include:
- Creating a non-binary gender marker on New York State ID Cards, Driver's Licenses, and New York State-issued birth certificates;
- Making it easier to get a court-ordered name change, by removing some of the requirements under the governing law that prevented many transgender and non-binary people from completing the process, such as publication in a newspaper; and
- Authorizing courts to make a legal declaration of a person's sex, while maintaining a low threshold for such petitions to keep them accessible to all.
Federal Eviction Moratorium Extension
On June 24, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approved a one-month extension of the national moratorium on evictions, scheduled to expire on June 30. The moratorium on residential evictions now applies through July 31, 2021 and more information is available here. On June 29, the United States Supreme Court upheld the moratorium, which will remain in place through the month of July.
The CDC Order does not apply where state or local laws provide the same or greater protections against eviction, as they do in New York State until at least August 31, 2021 for tenants who submit a NYS Hardship Declaration. Tenants with questions about their protections from eviction under the CDC order or New York State eviction protections can get free legal advice and other assistance through HRA's Office of Civil Justice. For more information on how to access free legal services for tenants in NYC, you may contact the Tenant Helpline by calling 311 and asking for the Tenant Helpline, or visit HRA's Office of Civil Justice.
Voluntary Engagement – Employment Services
HRA’s Career Services and Customized Assistance Services (CAS) programs are now offering voluntary employment services as of June 28, 2021. Clients may begin to receive letters and phone calls inviting them to participate in remote YouthPathways, CareerCompass and CareerAdvance services or WeCARE Vocational Rehabilitation Services (VRS). These are voluntary services. No negative actions will be taken against clients who cannot or choose not to participate.
One Shot Deal/Special Grant Requests
Special Grant Requests continue to be processed as usual for expenses such as utility arrears without any rent arrears, moving costs, storage expenses, security deposits, and furniture allowances.
Clients applying for a One Shot Deal, or active clients requesting a special grant, for rent arrears or both rent and utility arrears are required by the State to apply for the State’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) for as long as the ERAP funds remain available. DSS will encourage all applicants to apply for ERAP for rent arrears (and utility arrears if combined with rent arrears) as these funds do not require repayment or recoupment.
Free Summer Meals
As of June 28, 2021, Grab-and-Go meals are available across the city for pick up between the hours of 9 am and 1 pm Monday through Friday for adults and children. No registration, documentation or ID is needed to receive meals. Vegetarian meals are available at all locations, and select locations are offering Halal and Kosher meals. Additional information can be found here. A list of summer Grab-and-Go locations can be found here.
Relief for Homeowners
Eviction and Foreclosure Moratorium
The COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Act of 2020 places a “moratorium” on evictions and foreclosures through August 31, 2021 for people experiencing a hardship related to COVID-19. During the moratorium evictions and foreclosures may not proceed. This moratorium was extended from its original expiration of May 1, 2021.
If a homeowner has already submitted a Hardship Declaration, the moratorium will automatically extend from May 1, 2021, to August 31, 2021 and the homeowner does not have to take additional action. For pending (ongoing) foreclosure cases, the court will mail the homeowner a copy of the Hardship Declaration. Prior to initiating new foreclosure actions, the foreclosing party (mortgage lender, servicer etc.) must send borrowers a copy of the Hardship Declaration along with the required pre-foreclosure notices. The form is also available on the Office of Court Administration’s website. Once a homeowner submits a Hardship Declaration to their mortgage bank, no foreclosure action may be filed against them until August 31, 2021.
The foreclosure moratorium only applies to residential properties for which the owner is an individual who owns ten or fewer dwelling units. Mortgage borrowers can access additional information and FAQ here.
NYS Homeowner Assistance Fund
The Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) was established through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 to provide relief for homeowners experiencing financial hardships associated with the COVID-19 pandemic - including loss of income or significant increase in expenses - by preventing homeowner mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, loss of utilities or home energy services, and displacements of homeowners experiencing financial hardship. In New York, State Homes and Community Renewal (HCR) will administer the HAF. A minimum of sixty percent of funds statewide will go toward assisting households at or below area median income (AMI), and priority for forty percent of the total funding will go to “socially disadvantaged households,” as defined by the U.S. Treasury Department.
One-Shot-Deal for Homeowners
Homeowners may be eligible for a one-shot-deal to help pay back mortgage and/or property taxes to prevent foreclosure or home repairs that are necessary to the homeowner’s health and safety or if the repair is necessary to maintain employment.
One-Shot-Deal applications can be submitted through ACCESS HRA. Applicants without an existing Cash Assistance case should select “Cash Assistance” when prompted to select an application type, and then “One Shot Deal” when asked to select a benefit type. Existing Cash Assistance clients should submit a special grant request, which can be found after selecting “View Case” on the ACCESS HRA user home page.
Additional Resources
The New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS) has put together additional information on federal and State resources to provide relief for homeowners who are unable to pay their mortgage due to COVID-19 or who are at risk of or in foreclosure.
HRA Centers Reopening
We are currently focused on safely reopening our Centers. However, it is easier than ever for clients to interact with HRA through ACCESS HRA and the ACCESS HRA mobile app without having to go to one of our offices. New applicants can apply for SNAP, Cash Assistance, and Emergency Assistance grants online. Existing HRA clients can recertify their active SNAP or Cash Assistance case, submit a Cash Assistance six-month mailer or SNAP periodic report, submit case changes, submit a special grant request, request a budget letter, or check case status and view notices. Applicants and existing clients can upload documents through the ACCESS HRA mobile app. HRA continues to closely track and monitor foot traffic at our Centers to ensure clients are provided with appropriate staff resources.
We will continue to provide updates on the status of HRA Centers that are reopening.
Summer Rising Grades K-8
Summer Rising begins on Tuesday, July 6th, and will be operating in hundreds of Department of Education buildings. The program is New York City’s free summer program for any NYC child in grades K–8, including students with disabilities, who wants to participate. Learn more here.
Community-wide Conference Call
We appreciate 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 is appreciated, and your questions and suggestions help us better understand the needs of those we serve and respond accordingly.
The information contained in this communication is a synopsis of what was shared as well as new developments.
Each week, we will provide all of the information included in each of our prior communications 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.
As a reminder, we have a standing informational call on Tuesdays at 4:00PM. In the event that the date or time of the weekly call needs to change due to extenuating circumstances, a notification is sent out from DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov, in addition to an updated calendar invitation to those who have signed up to join the calls. To be added to this list, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov.
Please note that there are several hundred participants on these weekly calls, and as a result they may start a few minutes late to allow as many people to join as possible and hear all the information. In addition, the large number of participants does not allow us to have individual conversations efficiently, which is why we respond to individual inquiries through the chat box. If you have additional questions after the call, please reach out to DSSoutreach@dss.nyc.gov or the appropriate contact area listed on our COVID 19 Community Updates page.
CART (Communication Access Realtime Translation) is available during these calls as an accommodation for individuals who are deaf or hard-of-hearing. Please contact oria@dss.nyc.gov at least four hours prior to the call to enable this service.
As always, thank you for your continued partnership in serving New Yorkers in need, particularly now when our clients need 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
