Staying Home with Rent Freeze: How PEU Helps New Yorkers with Disabilities Stay Housed

For many New Yorkers living with disabilities, even a small rent increase can mean the difference between stability and losing their home. That’s where the Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit (PEU) steps in.

Through the Rent Freeze Program—Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) and Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)—eligible tenants with disabilities or seniors on fixed incomes can have their rent frozen at its current level, protecting them from future increases. But applying isn’t always easy, and many New Yorkers face complex paperwork requirements, missing documents, or simply don’t know the program exists. Watch this story about Vinny, and see how the outreach specialists at the PEU stepped in and helped make a difference in his quality of life.

That’s why PEU’s Outreach Specialists take the time to walk each person through the process, step by step. Erica Maldonado, an Outreach Lead on PEU’s Tenant Support Unit, says, “It’s not just about filling out a form—it’s about making sure someone feels supported the entire way. We help gather documents, explain what each section means, and stay in touch until they’re approved.”

For Vinny, a lifelong New Yorker living with a disability, that support made all the difference. After losing his father and his income as a home health aide, Vinny fell behind on rent and was denied assistance multiple times. But with the help of PEU Specialist Michael Luat, he was finally approved for the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE)—freezing his rent at $563 and allowing him to stay in the same apartment his grandparents moved into in 1959.

Vinny’s story highlights how PEU combines compassion and persistence to keep New Yorkers in their homes. “We’re not just helping with an application,” Erica adds. “We’re helping someone stay connected to their community—and their life.”