Every girl deserves to feel beautiful on prom night.

That was the message delivered on Thursday, May 10, as a room full of striking dresses, shiny stilettos and sparkling accessories set the stage for the third annual Prom Dress Event.

“Reach out, before you’re forced out of your home: We can help you avoid shelter.”

That’s the message that the New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) hopes to spread with a new campaign, as the agency urges families at-risk of homelessness to utilize services through its Homebase prevention network.

Located at 13 store-front neighborhood offices, Homebase offers customized assistance to families and individuals, providing services such as eviction prevention, short-term emergency funding, financial counseling, and help in obtaining benefits.

The campaign was made possible through funding from the Federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA). As a result, DHS aims to increase awareness about prevention services by featuring ads on billboards, subways, buses and bus shelters in 15 high-needs communities Citywide. In addition to the outdoor campaign, television Public Service Announcements will air in July and a Web video will be posted on DHS’ Web site.

“The purpose of this outreach is to continue encouraging New Yorkers to access Homebase prevention services before seeking shelter,” said DHS Commissioner Seth Diamond. “Through Homebase, we can serve families and individuals while they remain in their homes− the best possible outcome for everyone involved.”

On Thursday, May 3, 2012, Department of Homeless Services (DHS) Commissioner Seth Diamond participated in an event entitled “No Way to Pay: What’s Next for Homeless Families in NYC” Hosted by the New School’s Center for New York City Affairs (at the Milano School for International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy), the forum was moderated by New York Times columnist, Michael Powell.  Panelists included Emily Youssouf, Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of NYCHA, Catherine Trapani of New Destiny Housing Corporation (serving victims of domestic violence and their families), Patrick Markee, Senior Policy Analyst and Director of Advocacy at the Coalition for the Homeless, and Steven Banks, Attorney-in Chief of The Legal Aid Society.

**On March 20, 2012, the appellate court upheld the trial court’s decision that the City no longer has to pay the Advantage rent subsidy. Therefore, the City will not be paying the rent subsidy for April or for any month thereafter.**

Q: Why is the Advantage program ending?
The final 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: Will my March rent be paid?
NO. Since April, 2011, the City had been paying Advantage rent subsidies because of a court order requiring the City to continue the payments pending the outcome of ongoing court action.  On Thursday, February 2, 2012, the court discontinued that order.  Moreover, on March 20, 2012, the appellate court upheld the City’s right to terminate the program.  Therefore, the City will NOT be paying the rent subsidy for March or any other month going forward. 

Please note that the discontinuation of March Advantage payments is NOT an eviction notice.  DHS strongly encourages current Advantage tenants to attend a Homebase information session.  Homebase offers comprehensive services, including eviction prevention counseling, free legal assistance, short term emergency funding and assistance in obtaining employment and public benefits. By attending a Homebase workshop, Advantage tenants will receive assistance in planning for maintaining their housing. For further information, please call 311 to locate a Homebase office in your community.

Q: If I am an Advantage landlord, who can I contact to discuss the options that are available for my tenants?
During business hours call 212-607-6200, or 311 anytime.

Q. If I am an Advantage landlord, may I use the security deposit if my tenant is unable to pay the full rent?
As with any other lease, the security deposit can be used towards non-payment of rent or towards damages incurred in the apartment.

Q. Does the end of the Advantage program mean that I have to leave my apartment?
Absolutely NOT. The notices that you have received from HRA and DHS were only to let you know the status of your rental assistance. NONE OF THESE NOTICES WERE EVICTION NOTICES.

EVEN THOUGH THE PROGRAM IS ENDING, YOU DO NOT HAVE TO VACATE YOUR APARTMENT. If your landlord has asked you to leave your apartment or is threatening to evict you because the Advantage program has been terminated, please contact the DHS Prevention Helpline during business hours at 212-607-6200, or 311 anytime.

Q: What if I can't pay my rent - what are the options available to me?
DHS will be holding a number of information sessions for Advantage tenants at Homebase locations throughout the City. Please click here (in pdf) to view the current schedule of these sessions.

The City also offers a range of community-based eviction prevention resources including:

One shot deals may be available for families and individuals. In order to qualify, you will have to be able to show future ability to pay the rent. You need to go to an HRA Job Center to apply for a one-shot deal. You can call 311 for the location of an appropriate Job Center.

Families who are receiving or are eligible for Cash Assistance and receive a Housing Court notice may be eligible for the Family Eviction Prevention Supplement (FEPS). Families who receive a Housing Court notice should go to their HRA Job Center.

For more information go to www.nyc.gov/hra, call the DHS Prevention Helpline during business hours at 212-607-6200, or 311 anytime.

Over the past three decades, the City has built a homeless services system for single adults that is now recognized as the most comprehensive and sophisticated in the nation. What started in the 1980’s as essentially “three hots and a cot” is now a network of approximately 60 shelters that provide a broad range of services to assist homeless New Yorkers obtain permanent housing and remain stably housed in the community. Shelter, like all other public benefits, comes with responsibilities — the responsibility of the City to allocate this costly and limited resource to those who truly need it, and the responsibility of applicants to show that they have no other place to stay, even on a temporary basis. For this reason, we determined to implement an eligibility process for single adults seeking shelter. This policy is closely aligned with the existing eligibility process for families with children and adult families — a process we have successfully implemented for the past 16 years.

Although DHS operates the most extensive and innovative shelter system in the country, we remain steadfast in our belief that shelter is not a home but a short-term response to a housing crisis; that shelter is never the best option, but the option of last resort; and that it is the City’s responsibility to allocate this critical yet costly resource to those truly in need. Through eligibility, we can continue our efforts to help at-risk New Yorkers remain in the community, while at the same time return shelter to its root emergency purpose.

Data shows that nearly 60 percent of single adult men currently seeking shelter were living with family or friends before they arrived at intake. While only five years ago, one-third of the adult shelter population reported living on the street prior to shelter entry, today less than 15 percent of those seeking shelter report a history of street homelessness. For these reasons, we are confident that through an eligibility process we can identify applicants who can safely return to available housing resources in the community.

As discussed in the following Daily News editorial on eligibility, it is the City’s responsibility to determine the best strategies for fighting homelessness and to implement them in the most cost-effective manner. An eligibility process for single adults will allow DHS to do precisely that.