The Department of Homeless Services in New York City has offered migrant families a substantial sum of up to $4,000 to help them secure long-term housing.
In December, a program was quietly introduced that provided one-time payments to 150 migrant families. The purpose of these payments was to assist the families in covering the initial expenses associated with leaving the shelter system. This information was reported by Gothamist.
The initiative known as Asylee Moveout Assistance supported asylum-seeking families and pregnant women who were temporarily staying in 62 emergency Department of Homeless Services shelters throughout the city. It specifically targeted individuals who already had permanent housing arrangements in place.
The initiative does not provide continuous financial support. Instead, it offers a one-time relief to assist with various expenses associated with relocating to permanent housing. These expenses may include security vouchers, moving costs, and up to half a month’s rent for broker’s fees. The aim is to alleviate the financial burdens that make the transition into permanent housing more challenging.
The AMA program was based on an existing benefit known as Enhanced One-Shot Deals, which was originally created by the Human Resources Administration and the Department of Homeless Services. This program was specifically designed to assist homeless working families.
According to Neha Sharma, a representative from the Department of Homeless Services, certain asylum-seekers may be impacted by eligibility requirements imposed at the federal and state levels.
“The city continues to use every tool at its disposal to implement innovative solutions while creating fundamental resettlement support for recently arrived asylum-seekers who may not be eligible for most federal and state-funded rehousing assistance,” Sharma said in a statement.
The Mayor Eric Adams administration is implementing a program to address the issue of overcrowding in New York City’s shelter system. While the program’s rollout has not received much publicity, it aims to alleviate the strain on the system. As part of this initiative, several measures have been introduced, including issuing eviction notices lasting 30-60 days to families residing in city shelters. This has put over 30,000 families at risk of displacement. Additionally, some families have been offered one-way tickets out of town as an alternative solution.
City Hall reported that in July of this year, nearly 1000 new migrants per week, primarily asylum-seekers, sought shelter in NYC. The influx of 2022 has brought in over 210,000 migrants so far.
