Westchester County's Eviction Prevention Initiatives with Commissioner Norma Drummond
Westchester County's Eviction Prevention Initiatives with Commissioner Norma Drummond
Monday, November 30th, 2:00 - 3:30 PM
Westchester County Commissioner of Planning, Norma Drummond, will provide an update on the county's eviction prevention initiatives and will answer questions from participants.
Westchester Housing Stabilization Programs in the Midst of COVID-19:
Eviction Prevention for Landlords
Eviction Prevention in Consortium Communities
Foreclosure Prevention
Medium-Term Rental Assistance
Webinar: Eviction Prevention and Housing Retention During and After COVID-19
Partner Webinar:
SAMHSA's Homeless and Housing Resource Center
Eviction Prevention and Housing Retention
During and After COVID-19
December 16 at 3:00 p.m. ET
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to economic hardship and housing instability for millions of Americans. With eviction moratoria expected to expire at the end of 2020, individuals and families are at risk of losing their housing. Join SAMHSA’s new Homeless and Housing Resource Center to explore strategies for eviction prevention and housing retention. Participants will hear from U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) leadership, an experienced housing attorney, and local Continuum of Care (CoC) leadership about implementing data-informed, targeted prevention efforts that prioritize racial equity and will learn strategies that can be implemented now to prevent future housing instability when the moratoria expire.
Speakers:
John Kuhn, SSVF National Director, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
Larry McDonough, Attorney at Law and Adjunct Professor of Law, Senior Minnesota Counsel, National Anti-Eviction Project, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
Randy McCoy, Executive Director of Metro Area Continuum of Care for the Homeless (MACCH), Omaha, Nebraska
REGISTER HERE
This webinar is being hosted by our partner SAMHSA's Homeless and Housing Resource Center (HHRC). If you have questions or concerns, please contact info@hhrctraining.org.
National Hunger & Homelessness Awareness Week
Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is an annual program where people come together across the country to draw attention to the problems of hunger and homelessness. Participating groups spend the week holding a series of educational, service, fundraising, and advocacy events.
Community Build Back Program Funding Expires 12/31/20
Please see below for information from HDSW's Neighborhood Preservation Company (NPC) regarding the County Executive's Community Build Back program to assist those impacted by COVID-19. Funding is available, but expires 12/31/2020, to assist with Foreclosure and Eviction Prevention.
The NPC is located In Port Chester; however, they do serve all of Westchester County. They are able to make appointments to “see” people by telephone or virtually by Zoom.
Any questions? Please contact NPC directly at (914) 939-2005.
People Experiencing Homelessness May Qualify for an Economic Impact Payment
People experiencing homelessness may be eligible for a $1,200 Economic Impact Payment and $500 for each qualifying child under age 17. To get this payment, they must register with the IRS by using the free Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool by Saturday, November 21, 2020.
If someone's income is below $12,200, or $24,400 if they're married, they probably don't file a tax return. That means the IRS may not have enough information to issue their payment.
The free Non-Filers: Enter Payment Info Here tool is available in English and Spanish.
People who don't normally file a tax return may be eligible for an EIP if they:
Are a U.S. citizen, permanent resident or qualifying resident alien
Have a work-eligible Social Security number
Cannot be claimed as a dependent of another taxpayer
To use the tool, a person needs:
Name, as it appears on Social Security card, for self and spouse, if they are eligible
A work-eligible SSN for self and spouse, if they are eligible
For each qualifying child, name, relationship and SSN or Adoption Tax Identification Number
An email address to help create an account to use the Non-Filers tool
A mailing address where they can receive the payment and a confirmation letter, which the IRS will mail within 15 days after issuing their payment
Banking information, including routing and account numbers, if they want their payment via direct deposit
An Identity Protection Personal Identification Number, if the IRS sent one in the past. If a person lost it, they can use the Get an IP PIN tool at IRS.gov to retrieve their number
The Non-Filers tool asks for a user's license or state ID number to digitally sign the document. There are other ways to do this, so an ID is optional in the tool.
If someone wants their payment by direct deposit but doesn't have a bank account, they can visit the FDIC website for help. The IRS will mail a payment to anyone who doesn't give direct deposit information.
Other key points about Economic Impact Payments
The IRS highly recommends the online Non-Filers tool for the fastest Economic Impact Payment.
People who can't access or use the tool should follow the steps in the Non-Filers tool section of the Economic Impact Payment FAQs. Someone who mails a simplified paper tax return to get their Economic Impact Payment, rather than using the Non-Filers tool, must submit it by Thursday, October 15, 2020.
If someone misses the November 21 deadline, they can claim the payment as a credit on a 2020 federal income tax return next year.
The payment is not taxable income and getting one does not affect eligibility for other benefits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, unemployment benefits or other benefit programs.
People can use the Get My Payment tool at IRS.gov within two weeks to check their payment status.
More information:
Economic Impact Payment eligibility FAQs
Help for Westchester Homeowners with Mortgage Arrears
If you are a Westchester homeowner and resident who is facing foreclosure due to four months or less of mortgage arrears due to Covid-19, we can help. Westchester County has provided The Bridge Fund of Westchester with a grant to help those facing foreclosure to pay their arrears and save their homes.
The money we provide to eligible homeowners does not have to be repaid. But the funds we have will expire at the end of 2020, so act now to find out if you are eligible for this assistance.
You must be a single family homeowner whose primary residence is in Westchester County.
The cause of the arrears must be due to Covid-19.
You must not owe more than four months. Arrears owed prior to April 1, 2020 are ineligible.
The money will be paid directly to the bank where the mortgage is held.
You do not have to repay the money to The Bridge Fund of Westchester.
For more information, call The Bridge Fund of Westchester: (914) 949-8146
Housing Law & Eviction Prevention for Community Advocates Presentation
Basic Housing Law & Eviction Prevention for the Community Advocate
Two sessions will be offered on the following dates:
Friday, November 6, 12-1:30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82753663114?pwd=d3hxdjZaRzFLY3J5dmdJRW91 Qm4wZz09
Meeting ID: 827 5366 3114
Passcode: 997494
Tuesday, November 10, 12-1:30pm
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82982378247?pwd=WXVRR3hvbCs0QXM4Q3pDQ3UrWnM1Zz09
Meeting ID: 829 8237 8247
Passcode: 990337
Please contact AVasquez@lshv.org if you need a dial in phone number.
Space is limited so please rsvp to: AVasquez@lshv.org
VETERAN SUCCESS IN HOUSING AWARD 2020
Veterans must be nominated by a third party source. Veterans must live in Westchester County. Entries must be submitted by October 30th 2020
To download the application & nominate a Westchester County Veteran Click Here
Request for Proposals Available for Operation of a Tier II Family Shelter in Mount Vernon
The County of Westchester acting by and through its Department of Social Services is requesting proposals from qualified vendors to operate a Tier II Family Shelter in Mount Vernon, New York, as defined in 18 NYCRR Part 900.
Due Date:Nov 30, 2020 4:00:00 PM
You can access the above RFP at www.westchestergov.com/rfp.
Westchester IDA Approves Incentives For Affordable Housing
The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency (IDA) recently voted preliminary approval of $912,062 in financial incentives for the renovation of two affordable housing developments in Mount Vernon and Tarrytown. The two projects comprise a total of 250 units of affordable housing.
The IDA Board gave preliminary approval of $653,672 of financial incentives and $27.5 million in tax-exempt bond financing for renovating Ebony Gardens, a multi-family complex in Mount Vernon comprised of seven garden-style apartment buildings with a total of 144 units of affordable housing targeting tenants earning 60 percent of area median income.
Renovations will include upgraded kitchens and baths, new windows, new roofs, upgrading of facades and upgrading of mechanical systems. In addition, there will be a new amenities building with a fitness room, business center and community room. The complex will be wired for wifi that will be provided free of charges to the residents.
Renovations will include new kitchens and baths, new roofing and windows and improvement to mechanical systems for greater energy efficiency.
Located at 138 South Sixth Avenue, Ebony Gardens was built in the early 1980s and was in continuous operation as housing for low-income families. The $7.9 million renovation project is expected to create 41 construction jobs and create and retain 40 full-time jobs. The developer of the project is an affiliate of Related Companies, one of the largest developers and preservationists of affordable and workforce housing in the nation.
The Board has also voted preliminary approval of $258,392 in financial incentives for renovation of Asbury Terrace Apartments, a nine-story, 106-unit apartment building located at1 River Road in Tarrytown. The building features 36 one-bedroom apartments, 45 two-bedroom apartments, 25 three-bedroom apartments, plus an apartment for the building superintendent. The building is being acquired by Mountco Construction and Development Corp. of Scarsdale which has successfully renovated 17 former HUD properties like Asbury Terrace.
https://patch.com/new-york/tarrytown/westchester-ida-approves-incentives-affordable-housing
THE YOUTH SHELTER PROGRAM -WESTCHESTER PRESENTS-AN EVENING WITH BAKARI SELLERS
The Youth Shelter Program of Westchester is proud to announce An Evening with Bakari Sellers. Bakari T. Sellers is an American attorney, political commentator, former member of the South Carolina House of Representatives and author. Mr. Sellers is a CNN Contributor and has appeared on shows such as the HBO series, Real Time with Bill Maher. He is sought after for his passionate political and social commentary and analysis informed by first-hand experience.
The Youth Shelter Program of Westchester invites the public to attend this virtual fundraiser on Thursday, October 29 at 6:00 pm.
Affordable Housing Complex Approved in New Rochelle- 77 Units for DV Survivors
The New Rochelle Industrial Development Agency recently approved plans to construct a 100 percent affordable residential tower in the downtown center of New Rochelle. The 20-story property will take shape at 11 Garden Street and is designed by architect Stephen B. Jacobs Group.
The property will yield 219 rental units ranging from studios to three-bedroom homes. Additional components include a parking garage for 172 vehicles, a private playground for residents, and a new public plaza at the corner of Garden Street and North Avenue. A total of 77 units will be reserved for victims of domestic violence.
Read the full article here
SUPPORT RIGHT TO COUNSEL FOR LOW INCOME TENANTS IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY
Even before the pandemic struck, over 10,000 Westchester households faced eviction each year and nearly 5,000 people annually entered Westchester's shelter system.
Eviction cases in Westchester housing courts are lopsided: 93% of landlords have attorneys but only 7% of tenants do. Tenants without legal representation typically lose their cases - and their homes - in just 3-4 minutes in a blur of rapid-fire judicial action.
Now the rental housing market in Westchester is in crisis. The pandemic recession has interrupted or destroyed thousands of Westchester families' jobs. The August 2020 unemployment rate in Westchester is still 11.1%. Thousands of Westchester households have been unable to pay their rent. There are state and federal moratoria that postpone evictions, but the unpaid rents continue to accumulate. As a result, Westchester is facing a "tsunami of evictions" when the current moratoria on evictions are lifted.
A Westchester Right 2 Counsel Coalition has been created to create a right to counsel for low-income tenants facing eviction. Similar programs have already been established in cities across the country including NYC, Cleveland and Minneapolis. These programs have effectively reduced the number of people annually evicted.
The R2C Coalition is asking Westchester residents to contact their county legislators and urge them to pass Right 2 Counsel legislation in Westchester. We can't afford to wait and let hundreds or even thousands more Westchester households flood our already over-burdened homeless shelter system. Please call or email your county legislator today!
-Karl Bertrand, LMSW
Co-Chair, Westchester County Continuum of Care Partnership for the Homeless
President/C.E.O., Program Design and Development, LLC
Legal Aide Society Secures Permission to Intervene on Litigation
To the dismay of landlords, tenants now have a seat at the table in the legal challenges to New York’s rent law.
In two of the five cases that challenge last year’s law — one brought by the Building and Realty Institute of Westchester, and the other brought by G-Max management — U.S. District Judge Kenneth Karas granted a motion to intervene from attorneys representing tenant groups Community Voices Heard and Tenants & Neighbors.
The latest decision means tenant attorneys will now be a party to each of the five separate legal challenges, giving them the power to file motions and make arguments on the tenants’ behalf.