Graphic that reads ''What's New at PEU: July 2024'' with an image of many P E U staff members standing together in a park

Hello, neighbors and friends 🌞 –

Welcome to our July edition of our newsletter! At the Public Engagement Unit (PEU), we're proud to be a part of the fabric of NYC. Our team has been working tirelessly to bring essential resources and programs, such as internet access and health care, to New Yorkers from all walks of life. We’re sharing more information about that here in this month’s issue!

One way we're making a difference is through our culturally competent healthcare support program, GetCoveredNYC. We believe that every individual deserves access to care that is affordable, trustworthy, and tailored to their unique needs.

In a New York state of mind 🗽,

The Public Engagement Unit

Top 4️⃣ Resources We're Sharing this Month

Get Online in NYC

PEU and BronxNet just released our new PSA about accessing the internet in NYC. Every New Yorker should have equal access to the vast opportunities the digital world offers, and the resources listed here help make this a reality. Get connected in the city!

Beat the Heat

Extreme heat is a serious threat in New York City, and New Yorkers need to be extra careful during the hot summer months. Understand the risk of extreme heat and make a heat emergency plan that works for you and your family.

We Speak NYC

PEU collaborated with the Mayor’s Office for Immigrant Affairs (MOIA)’s We Speak NYC series on an episode about tenant rights! In honor of Immigrant Heritage Month, we hosted a screening of the video with MOIA last week! Watch the episode “Sofa Love” here.

Child Care Vouchers

Childcare vouchers help cover childcare costs for children aged 6 weeks to 13 years old and children with disabilities up to 19 years old. This is just one of the 70 programs and services available to serve New Yorkers. Learn more about what benefits you might qualify for and how to access them with a benefits screening.

Program Spotlight:

Culturally Competent Health Care Support with GetCoveredNYC

With the ripple effects of the COVID-19 pandemic still being felt, New Yorkers are facing new and diverse challenges in connecting to accessible, affordable, and trustworthy health care. GetCoveredNYC’s unique outreach strategies and culturally competent support are critical components of delivering essential services to communities that need them most.

The team works in all five boroughs, attending community events, conducting neighborhood canvassing, and hosting office hours at high-traffic locations to connect with New Yorkers and ensure they get the care they need. Recently, the team has been helping qualified New Yorkers get enrolled in newly expanded Medicaid and the Essential Plan. New Yorkers can contact GetCoveredNYC virtually here or check out our events at nyc.gov/WheresPEU to meet them in person.

GetCoveredNYC Specialists collectively speak over 20 languages and accompany clients through the entire process of connecting to health care resources. After initial connection at events or through targeted phone or text outreach, Specialists go above and beyond to advocate for New Yorkers. GetCoveredNYC staff have done it all to make sure their clients don’t fall through the cracks. They reassure New Yorkers through their fears, participate in and speak at community events and meetings, celebrate with clients over the phone when they get good news, and persistently problem-solve and follow up.

To better explain GetCoveredNYC’s approach, we’ve just released a series of comic strips sharing the true stories of GetCoveredNYC Specialists and their clients. Take a look at some of them below and download them all here to share.

Illustrated comic strip of a GetCoveredNYC Specialist helping an older New Yorker who only speaks Bangla access health insurance. New Yorkers can call 311 and ask for ''GetCoveredNYC'' to get help with their health insurance questions and be connected to an enrollment counselor.

Illustrated comic strip of a GetCoveredNYC Specialist helping an older New Yorker who recently lost Medicaid but needs health insurance to pay for Chemo treatments. New Yorkers can call 311 and ask for ''GetCoveredNYC'' to get help with their health insurance questions and be connected to an enrollment counselor.

PEU - WHO ⭐ Staff Spotlight

Meet Dina Myers, a member of our Home Support Unit!

Her role involves bridging the gap between property owners, brokers, and New Yorkers who need rental assistance.

What motivates you in your work?

Before starting at PEU, I worked in the shelter system in NYC, which taught me the importance of going above and beyond. For me, this work isn't just a job—it's a passion. I am dedicated to providing the best service possible, driven by my love for research and helping others.

I am deeply invested in ensuring that everyone has a place to call home, and I genuinely care about the well-being of those I serve.

Are there any cases you’ve worked on recently that have stuck with you?

I recently helped a property owner struggling with accessing rental payments. My support and guidance during her financial difficulties meant a lot to her, and she expressed deep gratitude in a heartfelt letter. She wrote: “I will never forget how when I was at my lowest financial point in my life, you came and uplifted me to ensure that I was given a fair chance.”

These words remind me why I’m dedicated to promoting housing fairness and combating discrimination every day. By supporting property owners, brokers, and tenants, Specialists like myself help ensure that every New Yorker has the opportunity to find a safe and affordable place to call home.

In the News 🗞️

Read more here

About PEU

The NYC Public Engagement Unit (PEU) uses community organizing principles to re-envision how the city provides services to its most vulnerable communities. Rather than expecting constituents to navigate a complex city bureaucracy to get the help they need, PEU adopts grassroots tactics to meet residents where they are — at their doors and on their phones, in their social media feeds, and in their communities. PEU combines this proactive outreach with comprehensive case management, and in doing so, builds long-term relationships between New Yorkers and their government.

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