Commitment Title
Educate tenants about their rights and resources to prevent displacement
Rezoning Policy Domain
Housing
Lead Agency
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT UNIT (PEU)
Commitment Stage
In Progress
Statement From Source Document Poa
Since July 2015, Tenant Support Unit (TSU) specialists, part of the Mayor's Public Engagement
Unit (PEU), have completed over 12,000 door knocks and assisted over 1,400 Bay Street area
tenants. TSU uses a data-driven approach to identify, engage and provide assistance to
vulnerable New Yorkers who may be at risk of displacement or experiencing landlord
harassment. Specialists conduct outreach through door knocking, phone calls, and events with
local CBOs and elected officials to educate tenants about their housing rights, identify any
housing-related issues and case-manage them to access a range of services, including
emergency repairs through HPD and free legal assistance through HRA. TSU will continue to
bridge the gap between tenants in the North Shore and available City resources, to ensure that
residents are able to access the services that they need to stay in their home. PEU will report on
the number of Bay Street area tenants assisted through TSU's outreach on a quarterly basis to
Staten Island Community Board 1 and the Local Council Member.
In addition, the Public Engagement Unit will dedicate staff to conduct proactive outreach to
tenants in the 10301, 10302, 10303, 10304, 10310 and 10314 zip codes who may be eligible for
legal assistance under Universal Access to Counsel law and in accordance with HRA Office of
Civil Justice's expansion timeline.
Original Schedule
Ongoing
Narrative
Since July 2015, Tenant Support Unit (TSU) specialists, part of the Mayor's Public Engagement Unit (PEU), have completed over 12,900 door knocks and assisted over 1,470 Bay Street area tenants. TSU uses a data-driven approach to identify, engage, and provide assistance to vulnerable New Yorkers who may be at risk of displacement or experiencing landlord harassment. Specialists conduct outreach through door knocking, phone calls, and events with local CBOs and elected officials to educate tenants about their housing rights, identify any housing-related issues and case-manage them to access a range of services, including emergency repairs through HPD and free legal assistance through HRA. TSU will continue to bridge the gap between tenants in the North Shore and available City resources to ensure that residents are able to access the services that they need to stay in their home. PEU will continue to report on the number of Bay Street area tenants assisted through TSU's outreach on a quarterly basis to Staten Island Community Board 1 and the Local Council Member. In addition, PEU is conducting proactive outreach to tenants in the 10301, 10302, 10303, 10304, 10310, and 10314 zip codes who may be eligible for legal assistance under Universal Access to Counsel law and in accordance with HRA's Office of Civil Justice's expansion timeline. The Tenant Support Unit continues to help tenants city-wide with housing issues through the Tenant Helpline, in conjunction with The Mayor's Office to Protect Tenants (MOPT) and HRA's Office of Civil Justice (OCJ).