HPD launches a new informative video series and enhances its Housing Ambassador program.
New York NY – (RealEstateRama) — The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer today announced enhanced resources for housing lottery applicants. HPD launched a new informative video series on the affordable housing lottery process. The first video in the series, “Applying to a New York City Affordable Housing Lottery: Video Guide” , gives an overview of the application process. HPD is also enhancing its Housing Ambassador program thanks to $195,000 in recent funding from New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. HPD’s Housing Ambassador Program is a network of community-based service providers New Yorkers can rely on for help finding and applying to affordable housing.
“HPD is committed to making sure that all New Yorkers have access to the affordable housing we are creating in record numbers,” said HPD Commissioner Maria Torres-Springer. “I want to thank City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito and the City Council for the funding to expand our Housing Ambassadors program, which helps to reach residents across the city. I also encourage you to watch our latest video series, which walks applicants through the process of finding and applying for affordable housing.”
“The Council is proud to have invested $195,000 in the Housing Ambassador Program to help New Yorkers better understand how the city’s housing lottery works with this new and informative video guide,” said City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. “I applaud HPD and our partners in government for adding this valuable tool as a way to educate and empower applicants who want to take advantage of the city’s affordable housing.”
“Affordable housing is key to financial security because it is nearly impossible for a family, especially one living in or near poverty, to achieve financial stability if they can’t afford their home,” said Commissioner Lorelei Salas of Department of Consumer Affairs, which houses the City’s Office of Financial Empowerment. “These new resources and the expansion of the Housing Ambassador program are going to help prepare even more New Yorkers in their search for affordable housing.”
“As we strive to create more affordable housing throughout the City, we are also working to make it easier for New Yorkers to apply for those opportunities through Housing Connect,” said HDC President Enderlin. “Through public education and outreach, we are ensuring a more transparent and accessible process. HDC is grateful to the City Council for their support of the Housing Ambassadors program, which amplifies our efforts to help residents in every community find and secure an affordable place to live.”
Applying to a New York City Affordable Housing Lottery: Video Guide is a five-minute, animated video with narration and subtitles that explains what applicants can expect to experience during the application process for HPD or HDC’s affordable housing lotteries. The video includes instructions on how to find advertisements for new lotteries, reminds applicants to check the income limits and deadline dates, and dispels common misconceptions. The video is currently available in English and will soon be available in multiple languages. Other videos covering different aspects of the affordable housing application process are planned for future release.
Recent updates to the Housing Ambassador program include the city council funding for twelve organizations in the program, which will use it to conduct educational events on preparing and applying for affordable housing, expand their availability to assist applicants in-person, and purchase technology and equipment to support these activities. Funding will also be used to provide Ambassador Staff trainings on how to determine applicant eligibility as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), as well as HPD/HDC affordable housing marketing and lottery process, policies, and procedures.
The following organizations were awarded funding:
· 116th Street Block Association
· Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE)
· Bangladeshi American Community Development and Youth Services (BACDYS)
· Community League of the Heights (CLOTH)
· Churches United for Fair Housing (CUFFH)
· Good Old Lower East Side (GOLES)
· Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY)
· Mutual Housing Association of New York (MHANY)
· Neighborhood Housing Services of Brooklyn
· Neighborhood Housing Services of Queens
· Southside United – Los Sures
For more information on the network of Housing Ambassadors, many of whom partner with HPD on a volunteer basis, and upcoming events, visit http://www.nyc.gov/housing-ambassadors
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The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD):
The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the nation’s largest municipal housing preservation and development agency. Its mission is to promote quality housing and diverse, thriving neighborhoods for New Yorkers through loan and development programs for new affordable housing, preservation of the affordability of the existing housing stock, enforcement of housing quality standards, and educational programs for tenants and building owners. HPD is tasked with fulfilling Mayor de Blasio’s Housing New York: A Five-Borough Ten-Year Plan to create and preserve 200,000 affordable units for New Yorkers at the very lowest incomes to those in the middle class. For more information visit www.nyc.gov/hpd and for regular updates on HPD news and services, connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @NYCHousing.
