Hear Our Voices

This week features Juan Diaz, a Policy Advocate at the Citizen's Committee for Children of New York. Juan discusses how his former employment experience at Homebase allows him to develop policies that can further assist families experiencing homelessness. 

Homebase- https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/homebase.page

https://youtu.be/_9FRoM-hG1w

https://riseboro.org/contact/homebase-homeless-prevention/

A non-profit organization that aids families and individuals facing housing instability. Homebase helps with rental arrears, voucher assistance, aftercare services for families and individuals exiting NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS) shelters, and eviction prevention services. Please utilize the Homebase locator to go to your nearest Homebase; they are location-based.

The first-year medical students participating in NYU's Health and Housing Program are back with an episode featuring Lourde's, Housing Policy Fellow with the Family Homelessness Coalition, to discuss the importance of empathy and compassion for individuals, experiencing homelessness in obtaining medical care.

This week's episode is part II of Lourdes's lived experience as a Housing Policy Fellow with the Family Homelessness Coalition. She paints a vivid picture of the horrid living conditions in the Bronx shelter and the treatment she received from the shelter staff members.

This week's episode features first-year medical students participating in NYU’s Health and Housing Program as well as Lourdes, a Housing Policy Fellow with the Family Homelessness Coalition. They discuss how health directly correlates to an individual's access to stable housing.

Hear Our Voices Presents: 

What Really Happens in Shelter with Lived Experts of Homelessness on Education & Mental Health

Moderator:

Jennifer March, Executive Director

Citizens' Committee for Children

Speakers:

Lourdes Corona, Lived Expert, Housing Policy Fellow

Family Homelessness Coalition

Nyomi Bethune, Lived Expert, Former Housing Policy Fellow

Family Homelessness Coalition

Jennifer Pringle, Project Director

Advocates for Children

Victoria J. Pearson, CEO

Talk It Out Mental Health Counseling

Our objective for this panel was to make navigating shelter and homelessness with a child(ren) easier and promote greater engagement in the children’s education. While the panel was targeted towards families in shelter or currently experiencing homelessness, all stakeholders were invited.

The Family Homelessness Coalition is composed of advocates, experts, and service providers dedicated to shining a light on family homelessness in NYC and advancing policy solutions to end this crisis. As fellows, we have lived through the challenges of homelessness. We work with FHC to push for a coordinated effort focused on the needs of children and their families experiencing housing instability as well as strengthen the partnership and collaboration with the community of families with experiences of homelessness.

Email us to share your story or resources: [email protected] 

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram: @nyc_hov

Join our first panel, “What Really Happens in Shelter: Education & Mental Health” which will be virtual (Zoom) on Thursday, August 11, 11am - 12:30pm. 

Register here: 

https://bit.ly/3csx8zf 

We look forward to seeing you there! 

Hear Our Voices was created by the Housing Policy Fellows of the Family Homelessness Coalition, lived experts of homelessness. We are presenting this panel to provide information and resources for children's education, mental health, and behavioral health while living in a shelter or experiencing homelessness.

The Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC) is composed of advocates, experts, and service providers dedicated to shining a light on family homelessness in NYC and advancing policy solutions to end this crisis. As fellows we work with FHC to push for a coordinated effort focused on the needs of children and their families experiencing housing instability as well as strengthen the partnership and collaboration with the community of families with experiences of homelessness.

Register for the panel, "What Really Happens in Shelter: Education & Mental Health" on: http://bit.ly/3csx8zf

Housing

Housing Connect (https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/)  

Search Lottery (https://housingconnect.nyc.gov/PublicWeb/search-lotteries) 

Furniture

Ashley Furniture program: twin mattress, a bedframe, bedding, and a pillow. 

https://www.ahopetodream.com/participating-homestores 

Find a furniture bank 

https://furniturebanks.org/furniture-banks/ 

Mental Health 

Talk It Out Mental Health Counseling PLLC

[email protected] 

Domestic Violence

New Destiny Housing

https://newdestinyhousing.org/ 

Resource Center: https://newdestinyhousing.org/housing-help/

Family Justice Centers: https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page (includes locations and phone numbers). 

24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-621-HOPE (4673)

Safe Horizon

Crime Victims Hotline: 1-866-689-HELP 

SafeChat offer information, advocacy and support: https://www.safehorizon.org/safechat/  

Other resources: https://www.safehorizon.org/am-i-being-abused/ 

Homelessness Prevention, Housing Services, Legal Services

HELP USA

https://www.helpusa.org 

Phone: 212-779-3350

718-922-7980

Catholic Charities

https://catholiccharitiesny.org/find-help 

888-744-7900

Riseboro Housing (Mainly in Brooklyn communities)

718-366-3800

https://riseboro.org/ 

Hotline for Rental Assistance: 718-547-2800

Email: [email protected] 

Coalition for the Homeless

https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/ 

CFTH Crisis Intervention Hotline: 1-888-358-2384

Get Help: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/get-help/ 

CFTH Resource Guide: https://www.coalitionforthehomeless.org/resource-guide/ 

CAMBA

https://camba.org/programs/ 

Homebase: [email protected] or call the following Brooklyn and Staten Island locations:

* 1117 Eastern Parkway, 718-622-7323

* 1958 Fulton Street, 718-408-5756

* 2244 Church Avenue, 718-408-5766

* 120 Stuyvesant Place, 718-282-6473

* 209 Bay Street, 718-226-0496

CAMBA Emergency Food and Shelter Program - 

20 Snyder Avenue

Brooklyn, NY 11226

(718) 287-0010

Nazareth Housing

519 East 11th Street, NY, NY 10009

[email protected] 

(212) 777-1010

Education

Advocates for Children 

Education specialist helpline, Monday - Thursday 10am-4pm

866-427-6033 or send a message: https://www.advocatesforchildren.org/get_help/helpline/send_us_a_message 

Students in Temporary Housing Tip Sheet: https://www.advocatesforchildren.org/sites/default/files/library/students_in_temporary_housing.pdf?pt=1  

Spanish Version: https://www.advocatesforchildren.org/sites/default/files/library/students_in_temporary_housing_spanish.pdf?pt=1  

Resources for Spanish-Speaking Families

Committee for Hispanic Children and Families 

Programs for underserved, low- and moderate- income children and families throughout NYC and the home-based child care providers.

212-206-1090 Ext: 355 or Ext: 310

Coalition for Hispanic Family Services

Preventive Family Support Services 

Franc Villalobos - [email protected] 

This week's episode features Alisa Kyle, Director of Housing and Stability at New Destiny Housing (role at time of recording). She shares resources within NYC for survivors of domestic violence and their children as well as the importance of long-term housing stability. 

New Destiny Housing - https://newdestinyhousing.org/ 

Non-profit organization that provides housing and services to victims of domestic violence and their children and is committed to increase permanent housing options for domestic violence survivors by building affordable housing and improve their access to existing housing resources.

New Destiny Housing Resource Center - https://newdestinyhousing.org/housing-help/ 

Family Justice Centers - https://www1.nyc.gov/site/ocdv/programs/family-justice-centers.page (includes locations and phone numbers).

Provides free services and confidential services by phone and in person for victims and survivors of domestic and gender-based violence. 

24-hour Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-621-HOPE (4673)

Provides services to connect families fleeing domestic violence who are at risk of homelessness to quality, affordable rental units in privately owned buildings and informs individuals about their housing options.

HRA Domestic and Gender-Based Violence Support - https://www1.nyc.gov/site/hra/help/domestic-violence-support.page

NYC HOPE Resource Guide to help you or loved one experiencing domestic or gender-based violence - https://www1.nyc.gov/nychope/site/page/home