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Connections 2008 and The Job Search

Housing

Emergency Shelters

New York City's public shelters provide three hot meals a day, beds, showers, delousing, and clothing for men (ages 21 and over) and women (ages 18 and over) in need of emergency shelter. Included are social services, health care assistance, and referral to mental health services.

For general information, call the Department of Homeless Services Emergency Information Line at 800.994.6494, 7 days a week, 24 hours a day. Spanish also spoken. The department is on the web at www.nyc.gov/dhs.

Dial 311 to receive directions and other information on the following intake centers:

For intake into the shelter system:
Single men can come 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to the 30th Street shelter at 400-430 East 30th Street (near First Avenue), Manhattan. Telephone: 212.481.0771

Women can come 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to one of three intake centers:

Franklin Women's Shelter
1122 Franklin Avenue (at East 166th Street)
Bronx
347.417.8240

Jamaica Armory
93–05 166th Street (at 81st Avenue)
Jamaica, Queens
718.262.1780

Brooklyn Women's Shelter
116 Williams Avenue (at Liberty Avenue)
Brooklyn
718.495.7874

Families with Children under 21 or Single Pregnant Women can come 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to E.A.U., 151 East 151st Street (off Walton Avenue), Bronx.

Adult Families with No Minor Children can come 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to the Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC), 29th Street and First Avenue, Manhattan.

If you need to locate someone in a family shelter, call the shelter inquiry unit Mon.–Fri. 9–5 at 212.361.6395; if you need to locate someone at a shelter for single adults, call the shelter inquiry unit Mon.–Fri. 9–5 at 212.361.0960.

Persons with verified AIDS who are in need of emergency housing or other services can call 212 971.0626.

Homeless Veterans can call 718.784.5690, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Spanish also spoken.

Families at Risk of Becoming Homeless can call the HRAHotline at 877.472.8411. Spanish, Russian, and Chinese also spoken.

If you are Under Age 21 and Homeless, contact Covenant House at 460 West 41st Street in Manhattan. Telephone: 800.999.9999, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

DROP-IN CENTERS

In partnership with nonprofit organizations, the NYC Department of Homeless Services sponsors nine Drop-In Centers located throughout the city. Drop-Ins provide hot meals, showers, laundry facilities, clothing, medical care, recreational space, employment referrals, and other social services. Staff can also help you find a safe and secure place to sleep. All of these operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Dial 311 to contact any Drop-In Center, receive directions, or other information.

Drop-In Centers are located at:

Project Rescue
315 Bowery
Manhattan 10003
212.533.5656 ext. 100

The Living Room
890 Garrison Avenue
Bronx, 10011
718.893.3606

Open Door
402 West 41st Street
Manhattan, 10036
212.465.0975

Olivieri Center For Homeless Women
257 West 30th Street
Manhattan, 10001
212.947.3211

John Heuss
42 Beaver Street
Manhattan, 10004
212.785.0770
(takes people with psychiatric disabilities)

Peter's Place
123 West 23rd Street
Manhattan, 10011
212.727.0725
(for older and frail people)

Project Hospitality
25 Central Avenue
Staten Island, 10301
718.720.0079

Neighborhood Coalition for Shelter
237 East 77th Street
Manhattan, 10028
212.861.0704

COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS

129 Fulton Street, 4th Floor (at Nassau Street), Manhattan 10038
Telephone: 212.776.2000

www.coalitionforthehomeless.org
Assists the homeless, the formerly homeless, and those at risk of becoming homeless. Offers housing services including rental assistance and permanent housing for single men, single women, women and children, and individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. Also offers crisis services including grants for rent arrears, groceries, and medicine; referrals to social service agencies; and assistance securing benefits. Also offers a job-training program for women. Provides mail and voice mail services. Coalition for the Homeless Resource Guide, a directory of information on food, shelter, and services for homeless and low-income New Yorkers, is available on the website and in the Reference Section of all New York Public Library branches. Walk-in Mon.–Fri. 9–2 or call Mon.–Fri. 9–5.

PARTNERSHIP FOR THE HOMELESS

305 7th Avenue, 13th Floor, Manhattan 10001
Telephone: 212.645.3444

www.partnershipforthehomeless.org
Helps individuals and families maintain independent housing through supportive case management, entitlement education and advocacy, legal assistance, furniture, support groups and other assistance. A workforce development program helps parents looking for work, and the Education Rights Project can help with some of the school-related issues homeless children face.
Call Mon.-Fri. 9-5. or walk in Mon.-Thurs. 9--4.

PICTURE THE HOMELESS

2427 Morris Avenue, 2nd Floor, Bronx 10468
Telephone: 646.314.6423

www.picturethehomeless.org
Founded and led by homeless individuals. Advocates for the homeless, organizing groups to fight for changes in the system. Publishes reports on homeless-related issues. Walk-in or call Tues.–Thurs. 1–6.

CITIZENS ADVICE BUREAU

Telephone: 718.716.6049
www.cabny.org
The Homeless Outreach Team can help homeless people get their entitlements, food stamps, and detox placement. Also provides counseling, referrals, job skills and assistance for homeless people in finding shelter. Four offices in the Bronx. Call Mon.-Fri. 9-5.

COVENANT HOUSE/UNDER 21 NEW YORK

460 West 41st Street, Manhattan 10036
Telephone: 212.613.0300

A 24-hour multiservice walk-in center for adolescents located in the Times Square area. Offers crisis intervention and short-term counseling. Provides medical, social, educational/vocational, psychological, legal, and family services. There is a short-term residential program with capacity for emergency care. Services disenfranchised, exploited, nomadic, sexually abused, and runaway youth. Must be under 21. Spanish also spoken.

HOUSING WORKS

Intake: 320 West 13th Street, 4th Floor, Manhattan 10007
Telephone: 212.645.8111

Provides services for people living with HIV/AIDS or at risk for HIV/AIDS who are also homeless or at risk for homelessness. Among their client services are: housing, COBRA case management, adult day health care, job training, other support services and advocacy, and a harm-reduction/needle-exchange program. Walk-in Mon.-Fri. 9-5. Spanish, French Creole, and Sign Language also spoken. Accessible to people with disabilities.

BAILEY HOUSE
East Harlem Case Management Office Drop-In Center

104 East 107th Street, 4th Floor (at Park Avenue), Manhattan 10029
Telephone: 212.289.6008

www.baileyhouse.org
Provides housing and support services to men, women, and children with HIV/AIDS. Services include housing placement, health monitoring, case management, counseling, vocational education, job training and placement, food pantry, clothing closet, lending library, and support groups. Staff fluent in English and Spanish. Walk-in or call Mon.–Fri. 9–5. Also operates group residences with supportive services. Residential clients must be referred through the New York City HIV/AIDS Service Administration (HASA). Call HASA at 212.971.0626 Mon.–Fri. 9–5.

PROJECT RENEWAL

200 Varick Street, 9th Floor, Manhattan 10014
Telephone: 212.620.0340

Offers a wealth of services to homeless people with disabilities (including substance abuse, mental illness, or chronic illness). Project Renewal tries to provide everything homeless people need to move from the streets to independent living. Areas of service include housing, outreach, health care, addiction recovery, mental health, and employment. Must be referred (referrals are usually through the shelter system, social service programs, prisons); however, assistance will be given in obtaining a referral if necessary. Call Mon.-Fri. 9-5. Accessible to people with disabilities.

CENTER FOR URBAN COMMUNITY SERVICES

120 Wall Street, 25th Floor, Manhattan 10005
Telephone: 212.801.3300

www.cucs.org/
Provides comprehensive services to homeless, formerly homeless, low-income, mentally ill, and special needs individuals and families. Services include outreach, medical and psychiatric assistance, housing referral, transitional housing, supportive housing, educa-tional programs, and job training and placement. Drop-in Center in Harlem offers food, showers, laundry facilities, counseling, and other services. Single Stop Centers in Harlem, Washington Heights and Rikers Island provide public benefits assistance, legal assistance, financial counseling, tax preparation assistance and referral services. Must be 18 or older. Staff fluent in English and Spanish. Call Mon.–Fri. 9–5.

COMMON GROUND COMMUNITY

14 East 28th Street, Manhattan 10016
Telephone: 212.471.0800

www.commonground.org
Provides supportive housing to the homeless, low-income workers, the elderly, and people with medical and/or mental disabilities. Operates programs targeted at veterans and formerly incarcerated individuals. Must be 18 or older. Accessible to people with disabil­ities. Call Mon.–Fri. 9–5.

The Housing Seminar offered by Exodus Transitional Community provides an overview for formerly incarcerated people about housing authority laws that affect them, and provides information about the shelter system. Call 917.492.0990 for more information.

METROPOLITAN COUNCIL ON HOUSING

339 Lafayette Street, #301, Manhattan 10012
Telephone: 212.979.6238; Tenant Hotline: 212.979.0611

www.metcouncil.net
Hotline offers information, advice and assistance. Call Mon., Wed., Fri. 1:30–5. Website includes Fact Sheets on tenant rights, rent guidelines, rent control/stabilization, subletting/roommates, heat, hot water, pests, and housing court. Website also includes links to online resources for New York City tenants.

See also the Emergency Assistance section in the chapter on Financial Assistance.

Shelters and housing assistance for women are included in the chapter Women.

Public Housing

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY
Borough Applications Offices

www.nyc.gov/nycha

Provides affordable housing to low- and moderate-income residents in publicly owned buildings throughout the five boroughs. Pick up an application for public housing at your Borough Applications Office or call your Borough Applications Office to have an applica-tion mailed to you. Walk-in Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri. 8–5. Call Mon.–Fri. 8–5. You will receive an acknowledgement letter within 60 days of receipt of your application. The waiting lists for public housing are long, particularly in Manhattan and Queens. Must be 18 or older.

In the Bronx In Brooklyn

1 Fordham Plaza, 5th Floor
Bronx, NY 10458
Tel.: 718.329.7859
TTY: 718.329.7735

350 Livingston Street,
2nd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11217
Tel.: 718.250.5900
TTY: 718.222.4113

In Manhattan In Queens

55 West 125 Street, 7th Floor
New York, NY 10027
Tel.: 212.828.7100
TTY: 212.828.7118

59-17 Junction Boulevard
2nd Floor
Corona 11368
Tel.: 212.828.7100
TTY: 212.828.7118

On Staten Island  

120 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor
Staten Island, NY 10301
Tel.: 718.448.7326
TTY: 718.222.4113

Housing Assistance

The Section 8 Housing Assistance Program helps lower-income families obtain a decent place to live. Under this program, the New York City Housing Authority may make monthly payments to a landlord on behalf of an eligible tenant that will constitute the difference between the rent that the tenant can afford to pay for the apartment and the full rent.

Please note that the New York City Housing Authority is no longer accepting Section 8 applications EXCEPT for those in the categories listed below, until further notice:

  1. Victims of Domestic Violence
  2. Homeless
  3. Intimidated Witness
  4. Administration for Children's Services (ACS) Family Unification and Independent Living Programs

You may pick up a Section 8 application from any of the borough offices listed above under "PUBLIC HOUSING."

The Legal Action Center has published a document, "How to Get Section 8 or Public Housing even with a criminal record: a guide for New York City Housing Authority applicants and their advocates". Access it online at www.hirenetwork.org/publications.html or call 212.243.1313.

The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD)
provides information on available affordable apartments, both rental and sales, through its hotline at 212.863.5610, Spanish 212.863.5620. A taped message lists available apartments by borough, income requirements, where to write for an application, and deadlines for applications. Preference is given to local area residents.

You can also visit the HPD website at www.nyc.gov/html/hpd/home.html and click on "apartment seekers" for a list of frequently asked questions and the HPD's affordable apartment listing.

Rentals

It is extremely difficult in most areas of New York City today to find decent housing at an affordable rent. It may require a lot of patience and ingenuity to find what you are looking for. Some suggestions include checking the local newspapers and church and community center bulletin boards, monitoring online bulletin boards such as Craigslist (www.newyork.craigslist.org) and notifying friends and people at work that you're looking for an apartment. If you contract for the help of a real estate agent, be prepared to pay a finder's fee of up to 12 to 18% of a year's rent.

Finding a Roommate

Another option in finding living accommodations is sharing an apartment with a roommate. People with apartments wishing to share, as well as people needing apartment space, often advertise in the classified section of the daily papers or on online bulletin boards. There are also commercial agencies that specialize in matching people with roommates. These agencies charge fees, though many charge only the individuals who own the apartments. For a listing of commercial roommate services, check the Village Voice. Be sure never to sign a contract until you are certain exactly what services you will be given.

Housing Complaints

For complaints about lack of heat and hot water, or a landlord's refusal to make emergency repairs in an apartment or building, call 311 and you will be transferred to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Spanish also spoken.

For cases of housing discrimination, see the chapter on Legal Services.

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