The ramifications for the government defaulting on its promise to pay are massive. Firstly the NYC homeless population, which includes entire families, is expected to double. Secondly, any property owner who had tenants in the program will no longer receive monthly payments. This is massive. Instead of steady rent checks from the government they will be forced into litigation to evict tenants and spend thousands on legal fees which many cannot afford. For landlords who heavily depended on the program, many will not be able to repay bank loans causing additional strain on our banking system.
Some might cheer these draconian cuts, if they are not in the homeless shelter system or landowners who accepted the program. It's reasonable to think money will be saved. This will not be the case. Every major property manager I called said the cost to house an individual or family through the Work Advantage program is a fraction of the cost needed to house the people in the NYC Shelter system. The cost to build the estimated 70 shelters needed in NYC to house the new homeless, along with other assistance programs usually included in the package, will be much greater. Hundreds of millions will be made from the homeless and societies need to house them. Political insiders who secure the contracts will make money hand over fist. The homeless and the middle class taxpayer will suffer again. Please do read the e-mail comment sent from a mother presently living in the NYC homeless shelter system. It was sent a few days ago. I believe it to be true and the most honest statement ever posted on my blog site.
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Information taken from Department of Homeless Services web site:
FAQ FOR INDIVIDUALS AFFECTED BY THE ELIMINATION OF ADVANTAGE
Q: Why is the Advantage program ending?
The proposed State Budget withdraws all federal and state support for the program which terminates the City’s authority and fiscal ability to run the Advantage program. The City strongly disagrees with the State’s decision.
Q: When will the subsidy end?
The program is terminated effective immediately. There will be no rent payments by the City on April 1, 2011.
http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/html/home/home.shtml
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Quote taken from BoogieDown reader on earlier post:
“I am in a state of panic. I lived in the system with my children and grandchildren for almost three years. We were treated like criminals. You become the property of the system. The case managers don’t do anything to help. They hardly show up! This is very true. Curfews, sign in, sign out. I have the Work Advantage program and am praying that I have my apartment by the end of this year. This will have a devastating effect on all, especially the children. I personally will become another statistic on the street. I refuse to be held hostage by the system again. What confuses me is the shelters charge over $3,000.00 dollars a month, plus food stamps and cash assistance. Does this sound like the government is saving money? I know that would be at least $2,000.00 more a month than letting me keep my home. I might add too that HRA is guilty of NOT helping with Child Support. They can make all the appointments in the world for you and tell you, you will be sanctioned if you don’t comply but they do nothing with all the information you give them. And as much as I can’t stand Mayor Bloomberg, this is not his doing. This is our Governors decision. Don’t tax the wealthy and throw the poor out on the streets. It’s a damn shame and I pray real hard that somebody is fighting for us because I will not survive the loss of a home again. My family and I were in the shelter system for five months before we saw food stamps. And while my family lost over 60 pounds, case mangers kept telling us to keep drinking water! Dear God, I feel sick to my stomach right now with nerves!! I want to be positive but I can’t. We already lost so much. I pray that somebody with money is out there fighting for us. At the rate things are going, the only people living in NY will be millionaires and tourists.”
72 comments:
Outraged by this termination..
I was in the shelter system for 6 months last year. I found my apt in Sept. of 2010 right before the voucher was about to expire (or so my Case manager informed me). It took me months to find not only an apt but find one that accepted the vocuher. (I know now why landlords did not want to deal with the city).I got layoff a few months back. I worked for the city and paid taxes, Now they send a notice two weeks before the program is terminted and state that we have to pay our own rent starting April 1 of 2011?.. you have to be kidding me right? How dare they do this to people who are trying to get there lives back together. I have worked for over 15 years and now that i need my tax money to help me its just pulled from under my child and i just like that...in two weeks..This is real unjustices..
i was in the shelter system with my family and moved into an apartment with the work advantage voucher. i worked 10 hrs and came back to the shelter everyday for this voucher.i was under the impression that the voucher was good for 1 year and now i hear that they are cancelling the program. i was only in my apartment for 6 months. this is how shelters get over crowded and families live on the streets. it is a real coincidence that they cancelled the program around tax return. they said that if you receive benefits from the welfare then welfare will rebudget your benefits. since we are working we only recieve food stamps so we are eliminated from the rebudget. we dont make enough to pay for the rent that city was helping us pay. this is not right what they are doing someone has to do something or a lot of families will be in trouble. like jay-z said politics as usual.
I am a single mother, with three boys living in a one bedroom apartment, trying to get things togther for my family and I, and I can't believe what was done. How can people do this, how can they treat us like animals? how you cut off something giving people only a 2 weeks notice. Just terrible but you know what god sees all things, so I leave it in his hands.
The best thing we can do is to fight back, and take the city to a fair hearing. Who knows what may be the outcome of it, if all of us who are affected go and challenge them?
I'm willing to fight! I am a single mother with a 10 year old daughter who currently resides in Staten Island under what was the advantage program. My daughter doesn't even know whats going on- it will break her heart! And she graduates this year. I can't believe this is happening to us again. We cried while in the shelter with flying roaches everywhere! I almost had my daughter taken away from me because she started having "psychological problems" and was forced to see a shrink! The city was dishing out thousands of dollars to have us sleeping with the roaches and injustice but is bailing out on us now? Shelters are like prisons. They break you down to "build" you up. But it was all for nothing now. And by the way- public assistance pays little to nothing for shelter allowance. My mother has 2 kids and they offered 300. Her rent is 1070. She works in McDonalds part time. The program ending for her is really devastating because she is too old to be worrying about this. Times are tough right now. We are not lazy people. I have been looking for a job for months with no luck. And got my apartment now by working through the welfare for The Parks Department. Which is a seasonal job. They said I would have after care services- never got them. And DHS told me at lease signing not to bother saving money because they are not matching it anymore. I signed my lease July 09, 2010. They have been lying to us for some time now. Enough is enough. We all need to stick together and make a lot of noise so these inconsiderate fools can hear our voices and our children's cries! I promise it will not fall upon deaf ears if we stick together. They can take me to court! I just hope my daughter graduates with her class in her school. I pray for God to see things through and bring forth some brighter days. God bless you all!
Well here we go again! Where the hell are all of the GREAT POLITICIANS who represent these people. Oh! I'm sorry they're to busy making ill money gains, while screwing over the very people they swore to help. Anybody been reading the Daily news stories Yesterday & Today? It tells of all the City Council members who have, & Continue to break the very laws they have sworn to uphold. In the simplest terms it boils down to this: The laws are for the LITTLE, and THE POOR PEOPLES" They don't apply to us.WE MAKE THE LAWS! Yea, Right until they get caught, Then they all say it wasn't me. Maybe everyone in the program can get a great discount like Christie Quinn got for her CO-OP. Wake up people! you keep voting for these idiots, and now your getting just what you deserve. They give you promises, then they give you the shaft! keep puting these mooks back in office. Next they'll be trying to migrate the displaced to the wood of West Virginia...
Oh my dear Lord! This is unheard of! When i got my notice I litterally got Sick and overcome with fear. I'm so terrified and completely at a loss. I've been out of the shelter system over five years,and the thought of returning after so much hard work just breaks me down inside. My poor little boy has no clue of the storm to come..I. thought i was progressing just to be knocked back to square one..I'm so disappointed and ashamed of what i once considered the best state in this country..
Im soo sorry this is happening!!!!! Im not in that work advantage program but im still hurt for all the families that will suffer from this horrible decision the government has made!!! My prayers n blessing go out to u all!!! Hopefully everything will work out n section8 can take you all in n offer their help
Dear Readers:
Thank you for your comments. Over 400 people have logged on and read this article written about the termination of the Work Advantage Program. I am sure the amount will double if not triple with in the next few days. For this blog site it's a substantial amount which I accredit partly due to the fact that the issue was missed or avoided by the mainstream media. I guess cats getting stuck in trees are more important than 17,000 housing vouchers being eliminated. I hope you do organize and have success. The abrupt termination is not only an assault on the poor but building owners in low income neighborhoods and the middle class whose money will be squandered in a more expensive solution to homelessness in NYC. It makes no sense but at the same time if people realize what is going on and how it affects THEM, people from various walks of life will come together and at the very least make some noise that could affect change for the better.
I encourage everyone who cares to leave a post. If enough comments are collected I will e-mail the post to all NYC Council members and NYS Assembly members who represent districts in NYC. Please do let others know. Numerous posts such as the ones send to date should be heard. I know it's not much that I am offering, but it is what I can do.
Sincerely,
Gregory
This is really sad! Like how do you tell people that in two weeks your responsible for almost $1,000+ in rent on your own? Funny thing is that really who end up suffering this whole ordeal are the children. They claim that homelessness went down, ha..its about to triple now with the termination of this program. Its a shame and something has to be done about it.
This is devastating I have 5 children an my rent is 1600 I am a beautician and I only make 900 monthly. What is going on in NYC they take our schools sec8 fare hikes now work advantage? Its insane! I was excepted for sec8 in 2008 the didn't have $$ to give me a voucher now after a year in the shelter their taken my 1316 W. A voucher. I wish all of us the best
I think everyone should focus their outrage at this cruel eviction of 15, 000 people at the man most responsible for this decision, Andrew Cuomo; his name should be associated with this infamy of forced homelessness: Cuomo's homeless. Everyone should also remember that although it was President Bush who defunded the section 8 program, President Obama has shamefully refused to resubsidize it, highlighting again how republican this Clintonian-inspired Democratic Party has actually become and how much painful need there exists in this country for a more progressive and social-democratic alternative. In European nations, people would be in the streets at all this social injustice.
hellow everyone, I'm a single 25yr mom of two boys . I'm sadly to say I just moved in with this workadvantage program in December. I'm devastated Im working and going to school now I have to return to a shelter, no time to think or put money together I'm lost !!!!!
This is crazy I only been in my apartment for 7 months and just when I think I'm starting to get back on my feet look what happens.My rent is 1300 and change there is no way I can afford that on my own with three kids and I don't get cash from welfare only food stamps so what am I to do?
india411@yahoo.com I am a single mother of a 3 year old boy. I just got notification with a TWO week notice that i have to pay my rent for April 1st. yet DHS sent me a letter that i was renewed for a whole year just in February!!!thank god i started workin but i wont get first check till friday and it will NOT be enough for full rent. What the state did to us is not FAIR!!i made one step forward and got pushed 10 steps back, I REFUSE to go back into the shelter with my son understanding now about the brown STUFF people smoke there and the fights!!!! There is a meeting for landlords and tenants at the HOMEBASE program on Pennsylvania avenue and atlantic avenue tomorrow at 6pm please show up tenants so we can try to get some help!!!!
can someone explain to me why in your life if things aren't going well financially, or you can't or don't want to work, you are on public assistance,or have no money in the bank you have 3,4,5 kids??? explain that to me? because I want to know why if your life is so miserable you have to bring not one, not two, but 4 or more children into this world? do you think you kids deserve a better life then you? are you that selfish that you need to have children even though they will grow up being poor, living with criminals in shelters, in bad neighborhoods having to struggle every day? explain that to me? explain why you women can't say no to man who wants to have sex with you with out a condom? explain to me why you women don't carry around your own condoms? why you don't take control of your life and your destiny and don't let one of the many bums out there impregnate you just so you can feel loved by him. get your life together. don't depend on the government to survive, make a good life for yourself then have children. or a child.
hello my name is ms hart. i have the work advantage program and they have not paid my rent since october and now i have a eviction notice from my landlord now i have to pay 1070 alone with two kids and looking for work. this is so unfair. now the landlord just started to fix the building i have mice with baby mice tag a long, i have holes in my apartment. plus my fire escape window has been broken out since october and still not fixed. we endureed the windest days with just duct tape i had to cover my babies withtwo blankets because theliving room was too noisy with people in the hallway partying.my lease is up in june
For the moron who said why can't people stop having kids your right but in the same instance why the hell is the world so calius towards people and they keep on increasing the cost of living w/ all these slumlords out there who dont deserve half of the money their asking for & they wont even fix things in your apt?!? sometimes these apartment buildings are just as dirty & nasty as a shelter! We live in a world where people have gone out of control w/ their prices in charging people just to have a place to rest there head, if you ask me I feel the state has given these landlords to much freedom. And no its not right to get treated like an animal just because you lost your job & home & our down on your luck, theres no reason to be locked down or deal w/ infestation of roaches or mice ITS NOT HUMAN! I am a 31 single mother w/ ONE child who is autistic I lost my job when he got worst & soon my bills were too much & I became homeless I was giving a advantage program because of my sons ssi check i was told it would turn into section 8 because i am his care taker & currently exempted from work but now they say they can no longer help me & im scared for my son & his bus service to school.....I pray for each & every one of us that god helps us all get threw this because its not just me its other families too & i wish u all the best of luck!
HI I TOO AM GOING THROUGH THIS AND I CONTACTED THE NEWS THEY ARE TRYING TO GET PPL TO EMAIL OR CALL.. SO THEY CAN MAKE A HOOT ABOUT THIS.
MAYBE IF WE ALL STAND TOGETHER THEY'LL HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT THIS.
CONTACT NANCY AT NEWS 12
Nancy Ahmed
News 12 Brooklyn
Assignment Editor
T: 718-861-6818
NEWS12BKLN@news12.com
I am ready to fight this thing with all that I have; we can’t just sit and be angry we have to fight back as a group. Let’s show the mayor and the governor that we are not going to take this sitting down. No more complaining amongst ourselves. A rally, a march some type of demonstration - together!
Anyone in BK please call the number from news 12 given above she said no one has called from BK and she can only do a story if she gets some calls!!!!!!!!
hi whoever recieved the letter that they are sending out please someone show it to nancy from news 12 because she wants to see it and find out whats really going on so that she can reported it on the news 12
Here is a # to call 1(518) 455-5668, tell them u would like to leave your name and borough and that u would like to keep the workadvantage program. U count.......plz everyone!
If u are visiting a HRA building spread the word Ur vote count call Albany 1(518)455-5668
any one can call News1 @ 212-NY1-NEWS (212-691-6397) or email Desk@ny1news.com.com. Flood there lines with calls about the program ending !!!! Check the Coaltioan for the Homeless website and send the letter to the mayor it only takes 1 sec
Has anyone considered the impact on domestic violence survivors who are also caught up in this nightmare of a situation? Are they suggesting these women (and children) go back to their abusive partners?
Hello I'm a single mother of two small girls I was in the shelter system for a year before I found a job an was given an advantage voucher being in the shelter was one of the worst thing me an my children ever had to go through an now after being in my apt only 6 months I received a letter saying my voucher has been terminated my situation right now I can't afford to pay my rent without the assistance of the voucher an now just as my girls were starting to feel like they had a home of their own we are gonna be homeless I'm so heart broken
This is so upsetting I been through all the shelter. Drama I made it out and now this we need to RALLY for our kids and fight for what we need any body down I say protest hit me up risso20042000@msn.com
I am an Advantage landlord who can offer the owner's perspective on this issue. I signed a lease,(which is a legally binding document) with my current tenant, supported by the state of New York guaranteeing rent payment each month. After signing the document I moved ahead with the arrangement with the understanding that payment would be issued monthly. In reality, payments were far from consistent. There were times when I had to wait 3 or 4 months to find the funds deposited in my account! I too was laid off from my job. Needless to say I got behind on mortgage payments and have not been able to recover. For the first 10 months of my period of unemployment, I was able to remain current on all of my financial obligations. It was not until Advantage payments became unpredictable that I had ran into problems. Now, I learn that I will no longer receive the subsidy at all!!! There goes my home!!
From the beginning the plan was to accept the program, (in the past I flatly refused to accept programs of any kind. I took working tenants only) and its GUARANTEED rent! Guaranteed and backed by a legal document called a LEASE. Right? Well here's the kicker-- I'm broke! Foreclosure is immenent. During these 17 months that I am laid off I have spent $10000 on property maintenance, including a $7000 furnace for my TENANTS apartment! This expense hit me during the months where Advantage owed me several months rent.
Where is my public assistance? Where is my shelter? Who is going to swoop in and help the landlords like myself, who have kept up our end of the deal-- even when we were not being paid. Don't get me wrong, I think this situation sucks for everyone, but in the end its the tax-paying landlords that will suffer most. Where is my shelter. My home is going into foreclosure because of this situation! Where does public assistance play into my picture? The answer to both questions is ,'there is no help for me!'. My home is going into foreclosure, while nine times out of ten, somebody or some city, state, or federal agency will run to my tenants rescue. Her worst case scenario is going back to the shelter. Mine is losing my home, and not having a shelter or public assistance available to me.
Thank you for providing a landlords perspective. You tried to do the right thing and thought you could rely on an agreement backed by the government. Unfortunately the profit margin is greater in homeless shelters and prisons. It would be nice if you could charge the government interest and penalties like they charge you when you are late on your taxes or other government obligations. Unfortunately the profit margin is greater in homeless shelters and prisons. It's easy to disguise this as an assault on the poor but it also affects the middle class and landowners who have always been the pillar of American society. Didn’t anyone in government realize the ramifications? Did they care? Did they stand to profit? One more short sale for a bank to loose depositors funds due to a top heavy property on the market with an insolvent property owner who cannot cover the deficiency. Please do look into mortgage re-modification programs and please don't let emotions cloud your judgment. Unfortunately, sometimes holding on trying to do the right thing hurts you more in the long run. Please seek out professional guidance. Good luck.
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Hello I am also a landlord and I am in disbelief how all this is going down. I found out about the program being terminated and had to text my tenants who at the time were clueless and recieved no letter at all. I was also talked into accepting this program and while I got my rent on time every month in the back of my mind I was afraid of something like this. Now what? Did the state really think this out correctly? Do they realize there will be an termendous homeless problem....greater than the one we have now. These stories of ppl with children trying to do the right thing only to be pushed back 3 steps is heart breaking. I do have a major issue with the city though...it's like they do not know what to do so they are sticking it to landlords. I was reading the nyc.gov home page where they are basically telling ppl they do not have to leave their homes once they recieve their letter saying the program is over....wow! I'm sorry but us landlords cannot have ppl living in our homes rent free or paying a small portion of their rent while the city and state try to figure this out. I can go a couple of months if need be but what about the landlords who can't...the ones relying on these payments to help get them through. Thats how the city does us. By no means am I blaming the people in these programs....my beef is with the city and state and how this was handled. 2 weeks notice and this is one of the richest countries in the world....helping out over seas everytime a cat gets stuck in a tree and this is how you do New York's homeless families. As far as the gentlemen saying how ppl keep having kids.....you don't know ppl's stories or how they came to be in this position. Please my friend be wise and don't judge. I think the sad part is a lot of landlords, including myself I'm sad to say, will not be talked into any more programs of this kind.
COThis is horrible, and I can't believe it's happening here in the USA!!! We can not take this and sit & whine about it, we need to mobilize & get to the streets, just like the people in the MIDDLE EAST!!! Call & gather your friends and family and go to the steps of City Hall!!! Call 311 & get the telephone #'s of the office of your local Assemblyman or Assemlywoman, Call the Governors office, Call the Mayors office -Flood the lines DAILY with complaints! It will only take 15-20minutes of your time. LETS GO PEOPLE. GOD BE WITH US ALL!
I just got a call from my landlord. I was worried about April and now I find out the city hasnt paid my landlord since December. OMG I cant take it. The little boys are just feeling sense of Home. My stomach hurts from worry so much. We cant pay the rent. Jobs will be lost, loss of classroom and friends they just made..gone and my health is horrible. I cant take this anymore. I have no place to go. I cry all the time for my family. How many postings got their apts without that "second" lease most of us got at signing. The second lease is the real rent because there are no apts that fit the guidlines. The casemanager I had tried forcing me to take an apt $400.00 dollars more that what I was allowed to accept. And shame on the landlord who had no sympathy for his tenants. If Im not mistaken landlords were "rewarded" with more money for taking the program. Dont worry Mr. Landlord because you will have a place to go....a shelter just like the rest of us. And dont mention all the months (4) of rent up front you received for taking this program. Bet you were in forclosure when you took on your work advantage tenants...I know mine was!! And to all the people that posted here with vouchers, How much did the landlord/realtor hike up the rent when you saw the apt. Two apts I saw when I was looking increased the rent $100.00 to $200.00. Hats off to boogieDowner. I pray more people post and somebody in power gets to see what is really happening to us all. Im not just loosing my home, my family, my everything....Im loosing the will to live.
I am a mother of five who left an abusive relationship to obtain a better life for me and my kids. We went through absolute hell being in the shelter system. Finally we found an apartment days before the deadline so i had to end up taking something that was way to small to begin with and then I had to pay my whole portion to the landlord upfront for a whole year. Just so my family and i could move in or she would not accept us. They cut me off of public assistance and i am only receiving food stamps and there is no way i can afford this rent on my own. I don't think they are going to re budget me. i might as well put my mattress on the corner of my block and beg for change. I felt like i was so close to getting back on my feet. Now it is back to square one. Beatings and all.
I was in the shelter in 2009 and i got out four monts ago i thought this is my new life to better myself and my two boys. its sad to see how this is affecting every one thats trying to make a better life in my opion people who are not doing what there are suppose to be doing and making it bad for all should have action taking there are so many people who has section 8 and live in different country and rent out that apartment and collect rent for it. thats not right i mean what about hard working people like myself i make eight dollars and hour and i am trying to go back to school and get my life back on tract to be a role model for my kids so they dont have to go through this. i have a nice loandlord who understand but for how long is she going to understand when i cant afford the full rent and trust me with eight dollars and hour partime i dont know how thats going to work but i refuse to not fight for this program i need help bad i cant put my kids through this again not after all they have been through. god is good so i know he will help us pray to him and he does answer prayers. keep the faith were in this together god bless you all
how can they give you a program send you out there to better yourself and then leave you just like that. this is un heard of. are they keeping up with people after they leave the shelter to see if they are working and what they are doing i lets be real people we do have alot of lazy people who abuse the system and make it bad for hard working people who are trying and working their butts off. where are these people morals why should the good suffer for the bad if. it not fear for myself to suffer for people not doing the right thing being in the shelter is not a wonderful place to be treated like your in jail the wokers dont give one damm they think we are some low lifes. i just hope and pray that god hear our prayers because only he can help us. and i hope this is awake up call for people who are abusing the systems for no reason at all. god bless everyone am in the same boat but i refuse to give up. bless
ITS SO SAD MAYOR BLOOMBERG AND ALL THESE POLITICIAN DONT GIVE A DAM ABOUT US THEY ONLY CARE ABOUT THEMSELFS THEY DONT HAVE TO SUFFER OR WONDER WHERE THERE NEXT MEAL IS COMING FROM THEY ALREADY KNOW. THE WORK ADVANTAGE WAS A WASTE OF MONEY PROGRAM ITS A STUPID PROGRAM LET ME TELL U WHY I SAID THIS. FIRST OFF THEY GIVE U A YEAR AND U WANT MAKE MORE THAN THE MINIMUN WAGE. HO IN THE HELL ARE U SUPPOSE TO KEEP UP WITH YOUR BILLS WITH MINIMUM WAGE. THEY NEED TO COME UP WITH A BETTER PROGRAM TAHT HELP PEOPLE OUT MORE THAN A YEAR OR TWO ITS TOUGH OUT THERE U CANT EVEN MAKE IT ON 10DOLLARS AN HOUR. NOW THEY HAVE US ALL SUFFERING AND CRYING THEY KNOW ITS TAX TIME AND PEOPLE GOT TAX MONEY SO THEY SAY LET THEM PAY THE RENT UNTIL WE COME UP WITH ANOHTER STUPID IDEA. MAYORBLOOMBERG IS NOT FOR POOR PEOPLE TRUST ME NOR IS THE GOVENNOR AM GOING TO COURT AND AM FIGHTING THIS TO THE END.
My heart goes out to everyone i feel your pain, i was in the shelter also i got my own apartment and i know live with my two kids golory be to god. i was making 15 dollars and hour i was in my job for 8 years and then one day they laid me off. i know work in kfc making nothing. i only had 2months left on my program but i was prayin that i would be recertified for another year and now am stuck i did not ask to be in situation but things do happen. i dont know what to do but i know i cant return to the shelter with my kids my loandlord is very nice but soon she will not be because i cant afford 962 on minimum wage. so i ask whats going to happen to me and my kids welfare wont even help me they said i work so what do u want me to do stop workingi mean there is no help everywhere u turn. i just hope someone is reading these blogs and try to help us out because if we do not get help soon i just know its not going to be pretty for many people like myself. i just hope someone hear my cries. god bless u all keep your head up what doesn't kill you only makes you stornger. god bless bless the program and whatever they come up with next be safe
Hellow everyone , I feel so hurt and betrayed. I have two beautiful boys that I feel we will never make it in this world....I been having bad thoughts. I have no education I been working minimum wage living in a basement apartment no child father I'm a single parent now I will soon be homeless . I can't do it again , I been rape beaten and now homeless again . I am only 20 yr. I hope they do somthing soon before they have 3 less people to think about..........
This Government of ours is ridiculous, they have all the time and money in the world to help other countries in crisis but have empty pockets and timed out clocks for the same people who actually keep them on top. I called the Path to find out if we would actually be accepted back into the dhs system and to my surprise the snobbiest worker answered the phone only to tell me NO they are not accepting families with the termintation letter. we cannot be put out without an eviction, so i asked why not if they broke their contracts with the landlords why do we have to actually wait to get evicted only to be turn away from other apartments in the future her words to me " MA'AM IF WE ACCEPT YOU THEN WE HAVE TO ACCEPT THE 17,000 FAMILIES... YOU MUST REQUEST A FAIR HEARING AND WAIT TILL THEY GET BACK TO YOU" I guess thats what im suppose to tell my special needs child. Then people wonder why people actually lose it sometimes.. its not like the rent prices are potato chips they raise prices for everything including rents and expect the unprivileged families to be able to afford them. this programed paid $962 my rent is $1450. so naturally im paying the difference but you cant tell them that because its illegal but where in the hell are we suppose to find apts for so cheap?? Im so fed up... I too called the news and they were'nt to happy hearing my story because frankly i have nothing nice to say about our government..So F*** them too. im not sure whats going to happen but i wont sit around and just let them kick in the ass
I lived in the shelter system for 8 years with my five kids. It's sad but true to say that my kids grew up in the shelter system.All I ever Heard was How I wasn't trying to move.Many of the workers AND Directers of Shelters treat you like you are beneath them.They treaten to send you to the Next Step Program if you don't comply with their every demand.Some of them speak at you instead of to you,even Daring to raise their voices to you as if they have the right to.I was Blessed to find a Beautiful Apartment in Queens In July of 2010.Now How will I pay $1500.00 a month on my own?. ITS IMPOSSIBLE.I Struggle Just to pay $430.00 for my portion of the rent.How can The work Advantage Program Just Be dicontinued like that?.Regardless to what some people may think NO ONE WANTS TO LIVE IN THE SHELTER.EVERYBODY WANTS A PERMANENT PLACE THAT THEY CAN CALL HOME.IF THERE IS ANYONE OUT THERE WHO CAN HELP ALL OF US CONTINUE TO GET RENTAL ASSISTANCE THEN PLEASE HAVE A HEART AND DO SO.
Hellow everyone, I'm the 20yr old that had crazy thoughts . Thanks Gregory.I recently went to church for help and praying to stop the devil from taking over , I have faith.plz help us don't turn Ur back ..
I feel sorry for people that this happen to but this same thing happen to the program prior to work advantage. I also was in the shelter and it was hard but I survived it and made damn sure that I did all I could do to maintain employment and maintain housing for myself and my son. I feel sorry for the landlords because the majority wil lose there home because of this failed program. My advise to those in the system is to do what you must to ensure your have a brighter future. I was fortunate to have some education under my belt. But I choose to work park department in order to meet the demands of seeing apartment without the need of taking to much time off work. My prays are with you all. Educate yourself and push your kids even harder for success. I was in the system in 2006 finally moved out in 2008! The staff dont care about you cause nightly they go home!!!! I wish I could offer you all a place. This is even more reason that eventhough I never wantd to be a homeowner this is reason enough to send me mortatge shopping. Success is what you make it!!! Work hard and it will pay in the end you get back what you put in.
this really is crazy ive come from the shelter with 5 children i know how hard it is i got work advantage 1 and 1/2 yrs ago and was working my and my fiance just settled down with the kids life was getting good we had a baby last yr and now with the termination of workers advantage we find ourselves in the same situation what will we tell the kids i have 2 kids graduating and dont even know if well be here for them to graduate we were finally starting to live the american dream and now between rent light gas and cost of living we are not gonna make it thanks to all the people who have made this possible ya should be ashamed of yourselves
I was in the domestic violence shelter system in 2004-2005. Back then Earp Section 8 was closed so they offered us Housing Stability Plus. For my size family, they were willing to pay $923 per month. I was still left with $200 per month to pay out of my own pocket since we were mandated to take at least a 2 bedroom. I gladly paid the two hundred. However whenever there were problems with my case, namely letters being sent to the shelter rather than my new apartment, I was sanctioned and my landlord would only get half of the money.
I got a great job that paid $20 per hr and was proud to discontinue being in the program. However I was laid off. When I tried to apply for the Work Advantage Program, I was told I had to be on public assistance. This makes no sense to me because on every item you get HRA reminds us that "employment is the key to self sufficiency" Who can afford rent in NYC with a low paying job ?
My heart goes out to all of those effected, especially the mother with the daughter graduating elementary school. This is an important time in her young life and you dont want to have to worry about where you are going to live.
Important Information for Current Advantage Tenants
On March 28, Legal Aid obtained a temporary restraining order in New York Supreme Court requiring the City to continue to pay Advantage rents for current Advantage tenants for the month of April pending a hearing later in the month.
This order covers only those Advantage tenants who are still within their Advantage lease period. The judge has scheduled a hearing in the case on April 21st.
Current Advantage tenants, please be advised:
(1) The City has been ordered to pay your April Advantage rent amount,
(2) We don't yet know whether the City will be ordered to pay any further Advantage rent,
(3) Continue to pay your portion, if any, of your rent,
(4) Continue to comply with Advantage rules,
(5) Request a fair hearing if you have not already done so.
(6) Don't leave your apartment and reapply at Path just because you think your Advantage rent will not be paid!
We will continue to provide updates as we get them.
I can't believe this,after the hell of being in a shelter for over a year and finally getting back to a "normal" life I find out online my rent won't be paid anymore. We didn't receive any letters, we had ben waiting to hear about our 2nd year and wondered what was going on. I can't, we can't go back to a shelter. My son is stil on antidepresants as I should be. What the shelters get for one family can help 2 or 3 stay in their homes. This is sad in so many ways. I can't believe I voted for Coumo and his claims to be for the people.
This is outrageous, some many people are effected by this. tenants are going to be put out, landlords are going to go into harships and possibly loose their homes. this was such short notice and gave no one time to prepare. The city signed a 2 year contract there should be some recourse for them breaching the contract. I would advice everyone effect to call the attorney general office to have a class action law suit brought against the city.
I,ve been in the shelter since august i had to vouchers now the program stop they not even going to help us with an apt if we find one they telling me to get a room or move in with a stranger from the shelter new york city is so expensive theere is no way i can afford an apt on m y own .instead of building shelters they shoud have build low income apt to put us in they are wasting more money on building shelter how the people going to get out once the get in the shelter.bloomberg is very dumb for this stupidity he did
Hello everyone I too was playing the shelter game. I was living in a basement apt with my 2 girls ever since they were bore. Someone called ACS on us and they told us the same day to get out. PATH was a hellhole treating ppl like criminals then they place us in a hell hole shelter with Rats, Mice, and Roaches coming out of the showerhead.And my 1 year old has a high amount of lead now. Was cold all the time and the caseworkers were no help either. Finally got my voucher after being forced to take my fiancee to court for child support even though he has been there for us since day 1. Got a apt havent lived in it for less that 3 weeks and they tell us the program is done? PPL read your rights they are supposed to pay the rent for at least 1 year after you sign the lease! call the legal aid society of brooklyn. and request a fair hearing. Voice your rights because I know i refuse for my 2 little girls to be put through more bull shit!
I AM A LANDLORD,IUSED TO TO HAVE A TENANT WITH ONE OF THOSE VOUCHERS,AND IT COST ME $8,000 IN LOST RENT AND LEGA FEE TO GET MY TENANT EVICTED BECAUSE THE CITY STOP PAYING THE RENT.I WILL NOT DEAL WITH ANY CITY PROGRAM AGAIN. THEY ARE THE GOV. AND DO WHAT THEY WANT ONCE IN OFFICE
i to was a part of thee advantage program ,and i very worried about my future .I plan on writing,writing and calloing the govener himself if you wish to do the same the # is 518-474-8390...if oyu wish to write :THE HONORABLRE ANDREW M.CUOMO
GOVERNOR OF NEW YORK STATE
NYS STATE CAPITALBUILDING
ALBANY ,N,Y 12224
I HOPE THIS HELP ! I PLAN ON ASKING IS THERE ANY OTHER PROGRAMS IN THE WORKS ,WILL H.P.D , SECTION 8, OR PUBLIC HOUSING BE CONSIDER TO HELPING THOSE OF US IN THIS CURRENT SITUATION...OH ALSO CALL THE DAILY NEWS ,SO THIS ISSUES CAN GET SOME PUBLIC SPOTLIGHT..STAY STRONG,FOR OUR CHILDREN
i have gone thur the shelter system in 2009, not to mention almost not reieving the advantage voucher due to errors made from staff. they put me and my two kids thur hell and back after 6 long months in the system i was able to move in to my apartment in feb. 2010 then had surgery now really un able to work waiting on my SSD to b approved then recieving this letter 15 dAYS b4 the first of apirl made me crazy unable to sleep crying every night thinking of returning to the shelter i cant bare it. and if i do get approved for S.S.D i wont b able to get the program and still unable to recieve help with rent, still on a housing waiting list that is only givin to ppl with oder of protection wht am i to do! worked since i waas 15 and i cant even get real help and get treated as if im scum or a drug addict. this country makes me sick!!!!!
I definitly feel for all of you guys who are losing your subsidy. I also had work advantage I had it for two years and it expired and i couldnt pay my rent after it expired. i knew paying 1070 would be kind of impossible so I applied for housing, guess what? im still on the waiting list for that.going back into the shelter is not an option i cant put my girls through that again. my 2 daughters and i are doubled up with someone else in there one bedrooom. these programs that we rely on are like double edged swords we think there helping us but there destroyng us in the long run. for ex: the shelter has a curfew and every where you go you have to take your kids, that keeps you from working any real hours or from working two jobs. you HAVE to apply for welfare to pay there rent in the shelter so you cant be making any real money or you wont recieve the assistance. not to mention all those appointments, wep and so on and so forth. my point is i believe its true what a previous blogger said new york is going to be full of millionairs and tourist cause thats exactly what the politicians want, when was the last time any of us gave 10,000 to someone's campaign fund? half of us dont even vote. no matter how much we fight it dosent matter we live in a capitalist country the voices of the poor go unheard. they want us to leave, thats why there terminating all of the programs. they will spend more money building all those extra shelters then paying the rent on these apartments, they want us GONE. but i say if we survived the shelter system then we can survive anything we just have to change our way of thinking i believe we can survive without programs, subsidy and welfare. we just have to get educated and skilled dont let them win fight for your independence! MONEY is the only thing that will set you free!
i am lost for words that this is happening. once again the government wins. i only get paid minium wage and they expect me to be able to pay my full amount if rent smh.I am 22 yrs old and im a part time student. they havent even informed me if they were going to be able to make payment for this month of june.I hate depending on the syste, i cannot wait till i graduate college
its foolish governmental choices like this that spawn radicals and homegrown terrorist. everyone can take a beating in life sometime. but even the cutest kitten will eventually scratch u if continually abused. i pay taxes by the boatload so that people who need help can get it. not to line sum wealthy pompous ass's pocket. may god have mercy on us all when we have a government that has billions to kick in the doors of other nations to steal there wealth (unshared with the people of our country of-course not even the soldiers that die 4 it.) but have zero funds to attack critical issues right here @ home such as housing the homeless or giving these children decent learning environments. bringing decent jobs back so that these programs wont be such high demand to begin with smh @ government you should all be ashamed. next time your leaders wanna go to war...tell them to start right here....and fight there own problems b4 worrying about everyone elses
Outraged by this termination. I am a single mother of 2 kids age 9 and age 6. I am also pregnant, I get paid low income. My rent is 1200. They just cut my foodstamps. How am I supposed to survive. I can't get another job because I have no baby sitter. I can't even afford a baby sitter. I came from a domestic violence home. I would be homeless with my kids, I couldn't afford utilities and rent while I have other bills to pay. I try so many resources like be on lottery for low income housing that takes time. Me and my kids are going to go hungry and homeless. It seems like the city don't care about hardworking families with kids
What are people supposed to do when your lease is up and your advantage voucher is ending do we get an extention on it decission need to be made on how us low income people are going to survive through this we cant pay rent light and gas and take care of the home and kids i just hope and pray that the judge makes the judge makes the right decision and they make a better program that us hard working low income families can manage and live comfortable
Hey Government of NYC how about doing something smart with my tax dollars and instead of building 70 new shelters build some affordable housing so we the poor middle class who work and get thrown out because we cant afford $1,500 dollars in rent but some how make too much money for food stamps so at least I can attempt to pay that kinda rent or temporarily were out of work or fell on hard times, can pay you guys rent to help sustain the joke show you call PATH.That's who is filling your shelters right now... those who work to pay your salary, those who voted for you thinking you were going to do your jobs. The money that you put out a night to put me in that hell you called shelter that served me what looked like reject alpo for dinner no clean bathroom no hot water no heat bugs of all kinds while i was a high risk pregnancy with a disabled child -save that and use it towards paying my rent which is far less then what the shelter gets to make my life hell. you can make these affordable buildings all up to code and safe so you don't have to force people like me with families into houses that are unsafe for children you wont have to send your fake inspectors out because a simple search of public hpd records would have pulled up the lead paint violations (i found that out later on) that you didn't bother having my apartment checked for. you wouldn't have to pay housing case managers that nice bonus they get for every family they get out(yea we know about that) after the lie to families and tell them they have to pay extra illegal money to the land lords and if they don't they will be sent to a worse shelter or lose shelter- maybe that's why these programs didn't work???
Gee NYC Government how with all the problems your having will you pay me after I sue that crap out of you for forcing me to take an apartment that you didn't check that made my kids sick if you cant even afford to help the people you are suppose to help now? The government of NY wants to reduce spending?They should look where there money is being wasted because PATH doesn't work....food for thought.. stop covering problems with band-aids and try to fix the issues instead of pretending they will go away.
to that landlord who asked where is his shelter and public assistance? its called PATH and welfare 311 can help you locate them. they suck just as bad for you but your laid off so maybe you will get more help then those who work and try. no one comes and saves the day for the tenants. we have to fight for everything. sorry hope things have worked out for you and you didnt have to go into foreclosure
It is crazy! How can they give someone a subsidy and then take it away before they can use it! Real estate market is going through a crisis but this is unacceptable. I heard that in countries like Argentina, which supposedly are worse than the US in economic terms, an apartment for rent in buenos aires is very easy to get and affordable for any citizen. I applaude them that can have lower prices since "right to decent shelter" is one of the basic human rights.
Jules
Sorry but it's a simple equation. I can't afford to live in New York City - so I don't. I live somewhere where I can afford to pay the bills on the salary I make. I'd love to live in London too but can't afford cost of living there either.
Renters, owners and tax payers are affected by the termination of the program. I am sure you would seek compensation from your employer if he/she decided to terminate you tomorrow without a valid reason and no severance pay. I am also sure you would head down to the unemployment line until you found employment. The issue here is, a contract was broken. If you want to terminate the program and replace it with a more expensive option, at least wait for the contract you signed with the landlord to expire and the promise you made to the recipient to end. These were working people using a subsidy to get out of the shelter system so you and I can pay less of our taxes on welfare services. I am not an advocate of free lunches. Eventually we all must and should live where we can afford.
It's called close your legs and get a friggin job
The program was called "Work" Advantage. To be part of the program you were required to have a job. When you "work" and can't afford to house and or feed your children there is a problem.
This is the new form of slavery and the shelter landlords and the landlords that are letting their tenants live in sub human conditions, I am sorry to say with no racisim but all truth are jewish and don't care about nothing but the rent and this is all a scam because now the programs are not available so now if you can not pay then they are put out of their homes so now the new tenants get a fresh coat of paint and the rent increases and the prevous tenent is a shelter resident. checkout this revolving door. The kicker is that the shelter keeps you in the system for as long as they like and tell you what to do because you lost your job and due to this economy cannot get another one you are the new face of homelessness. And they know it I believe this is by design. The poor children that do not understand how to deal with this. My son's school has a very high rate of homeless students. This system should be a shame of it's self. They want you to follow all these rules and don't do anything. I advise no one to go to City Shelters (DHS) find yourself a private shelter and make sure it is not under DHS rule and you should fare better.
Also read your Budget Letter and know that you are paying crazy shelter bills out of you cash assistance. EXample: Telephone services that you cannot have use of and if you are using a shelter phone provided by the shelter not a pay phone, then you are lucky. And they are charging shelter stay out of the already small budget that HRA provides. It is sad that the City is praying on these poor people. READ YOUR HRA BUDGET LETTER
KNOW WHAT SHELTERS AND HRA ARE DOING TO POOR PEOPLE. And keeping them in shelters like they are prisoners for years. I am 3 years in this BS and I am fed up and I am seeking other remedies. Bless All That This Is Affecting. My Heart Goes OUT To You And Best Of Luck!!
There is no one ethnicity, race or religion to blame. I was trying to start a healthy discussion on what I believe is an injustice to taxpayers, landlords who accepted the Work Advantage Program and homeless people, who like you are treated more like cash cows than people. Let's start 2012 on the right foot.
This is a good common sense Blog. Very helpful to one who is just finding the resources about this part. It will certainly help educate me.
I would like to know if there are any court cases brought forth on behalf of the clients who received work advantage and the sneaky underhanded way the shelters forced us into taking apartments way above our means?I was forced into an apt that was actually $1600 and the casemanagers all knew it! And of course when it came time to giving the casemanager my lease she would ony accept the fake one for $1481.00. Workadvantage also said that we would not have to pay for heat or hot water, which I do have to pay for.Again, they knew it!! That was clearly in the lease they got. Do I have any legal recourse? Im angry. Because of the court ruling in April and the landlord who had someone ring my door at 8:30pm and serve me a illegal 30 day notice to vacate, my daughter with the income that got us this apartment, up and left. Where does that leave me and the rest of my children? How could the city have a written agreement and break it? Did they not FAIL TO COMPLY?!! Im just a little person in this big corporate world, but this isnt right. The city, the mayor, and their promises are all full of BS and they have gravely damaged my family with their promises. I will not survive the shelter. I wish I could find out just how many of us were forced out of the shelter into these apartments way beyond our means? Something is very very wrong with this government. And Im not about to serve more time in a shelter. Treated like a criminal is what those shelters do.
WHILE WAITING 4 MY SECTION 8 VOUCHER WISH THEY FREZE, END UP IN SHELTER 4 15 MONTHS GOT MY ADVANTAGE PROGRAM N FINALLY MY APARTMENT NOW THERES NO HELP FOR A DISSABLE WOMEN ON S.S.IIL CAN SLEEPBAD THINGS COMES INTO MY HEAD, JUST THINKING IF IL END UP IN A SHELTER AGAINT,ME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE FELL LIKE THEY PULL OUT THE RUG FROM WERE U ARE STANDING HOW CAN,THEY PLAY WIT PEOPLE LIFES LIKE THAT....
Outrageous for real!!!!! I like many families have suffered a lot for this voucher and out of nowhere ended. Since I was still under the lease agreement well I continued paying the rent of 1316 for a tiny 2 bedroom. But then I began.to notice that my landlord was not happy with 6 people In the apartment. Once the lease had a month left before expiring I was told I had to move or be evicted. With no family in NY and nowhere to go plus my husband being so sick with cancer my hands were tied. I put all my stuff in storage and asked a friend in Florida for shelter for a while well I was given shelter then I got a house that. Ow is leaving me homeless again because dear landlord decided that now he wants last month rent plus utility deposit. I cant afford this plus 1350 rent and the current bills. My things are still in NY but I'm scared to go through path once again. I don't know what to do anymore. If someone can please advise me in this. I could not afford an eviction in my record because then really it will be a nightmare to find anywhere to live with an eviction on your rental history.
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