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AGENCY TESTIMONY
Outreach efforts and Housing Ambassador Program
0:14:13
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177 sec
Ahmed Tigani details the various outreach efforts and support systems in place to help New Yorkers access affordable housing, with a focus on the Housing Ambassador Program.
- Expansion of retention and stabilization services for formerly homeless clients.
- Provision of $2 million in essential furniture vouchers for families transitioning out of shelter.
- Implementation of the Ready to Rent program, offering free financial counseling and application support.
- Housing Ambassador Program: a network of about 50 community-based organizations providing direct assistance to applicants.
- HPD's Housing Connect outreach team coordinated nearly 80 events citywide, reaching more than 3,000 New Yorkers in 2024.
- Maintenance of a Housing Connect hotline and dedicated customer service email for inquiries and complaints.
Ahmed Tigani
0:14:13
This work is about keeping New Yorkers housed.
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That's why we've expanded the programs and support systems that promote long term stability.
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We've refreshed our retention and stabilization service request for qualifications, which is our document that we refresh so that there are providers who support formerly homeless clients, if they choose, to maintain a stable tenancy after moving into affordable housing.
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For families transitioning out of shelter, we've provided 2,000,000 in essential furniture vouchers, helping them settle in with stability and dignity.
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And with the councils and the New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection's help, we've issued the Ready to Rent program, pairing free financial counseling with hands on application support so more New Yorkers can successfully navigate the process from the very beginning.
0:15:03
We also coordinate educational campaigns, trainings, and in person events with the Department for the Aging, the Department of Veteran Services, NGEV, the Department to End Gender Based Violence, and other city agencies to work hand in hand and share the most up to date information with our communities.
0:15:23
Another key component of our outreach is the Housing Ambassador Program, a network of about 50 trusted community based organizations at over 60 locations across all five boroughs that work directly with New Yorkers to help them apply for affordable housing, maintain their Housing Connect profiles, and navigate the 10 selection process.
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Many of the council members here today represent districts with active housing ambassadors, and we're grateful for your partnership in connecting residents to those important services.
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This on the ground work is further supported by HPD's Housing Connect outreach team, which leads public facing lottery presentations and workshops in partnership with community organizations and in collaboration with elected officials.
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In calendar year 2024 alone, this team helped coordinate nearly 80 events citywide, reaching more than 3,000 New Yorkers.
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For residents who need help at and outside of these events, our Housing Connect hotline offers another layer of support.
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Staffed by a dedicated team of 22 incredible public servants, the hotline represents to responds to over 10,000 calls annually.
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We also maintain a dedicated customer service email that fields hundreds of questions and complaints each week.
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Beyond this, HPD's division of neighborhood development and stabilization, which is a part of the office of neighborhood strategies.
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You normally work with them on planning work, on our neighborhood plans, and individual public sites.
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They interact with the community and through that work also offer a venue for talking about Housing Connect, learning about Housing Connect.
0:17:03
They regularly attend citywide events and speaking engagements to represent HPD's programs and respond to housing questions.