What's NEW at PEU!

About the Public Engagement Unit (PEU)

The NYC Public Engagement Unit (PEU) uses community organizing principles to re-envision how the city provides services to its most vulnerable communities. Rather than expecting constituents to navigate a complex city bureaucracy to get the help they need, PEU adopts grassroots tactics to meet residents where they are — at their doors and on their phones, in their social media feeds and in their communities. PEU combines this proactive outreach with comprehensive case management, and in doing so, builds long-term relationships between New Yorkers and their government.

TEAM WINS

PEU and Univision New York Partner on 3 Outreach Events, Reaching Approximately 1,000 New Yorkers

PEU partnered with Univision NY to host three outreach events at City pools and beaches, reaching approximately 1,000 New Yorkers. At the events, PEU staff and interns were on hand to talk about our programs and canvass around the neighborhoods to help New Yorkers access their benefits. Our partners at Univision New York promoted their "Contigo a Salvo" (Safe with You) campaign, an annual water safety initiative to protect children from drowning by educating parents and providing ample resources. This campaign kicked off on July 28th in Highbridge Park in Washington Heights, followed by Orchard Beach in The Bronx and a close out event at Astoria Park in Queens. The event featured tabling from City agencies, including FDNY, NYC Parks, Small Business Services, and many others, who added to the fun with giveaways, health and safety demonstrations, and resources. See our event and Executive Director featured on Univision!

CUNY Career Launch Interns

This summer, PEU welcomed more than 100 CUNY Career Launch interns to expand our capacity to reach New Yorkers and to support them in launching their careers in public service. Interns have been conducting proactive outreach in-person, over the phone, and via peer-to-peer texting to identify and screen New Yorkers for benefit eligibility using the ACCESS NYC screening tool and to help them schedule COVID-19 vaccine and testing appointments. PEU staff are then helping these clients navigate through the benefits enrollment process. Interns screened 300 people for benefit eligibility and conducted over 40 tabling events. PEU texted over 284,000 and called over 9,000 for Fair Fares. In addition, over 50K phone calls were made to inform NYers of the Affordable Connectivity Program.

Health Care Week of Action

PEU partnered with NYC Health + Hospitals on a week of action promoting GetCoveredNYC, NYC Care, and the importance of accessing high-quality primary care. PEU’s GetCoveredNYC team and more than 100 CUNY interns tabled and canvassed in high-traffic neighborhoods across New York City to get the word out about these important programs. GetCoveredNYC offers free assistance for New Yorkers seeking to enroll in health coverage and NYCCare is a health care access program that guarantees low-cost and no-cost services to New Yorkers who do not qualify for or cannot afford health insurance. The week of action concluded with an event on Saturday, July 30th at Elmhurst Hospital with Mayor Adams which you can watch here.

Home Support Unit Partnerships Find Housing for 51 Homeless Families

The Home Support Unit (HSU) continues to carry out their campaign to recruit new landlords to its growing list of in-house agent/owners. This month, we worked directly with our in-house agents and non-profit partners to make sure that a New York City veteran remained housed. Ms. Harris is a disabled veteran who faced eviction due to property being sold by the end of the month. Upon hearing of this, HSU Specialists recruited a unit in Staten Island with ADA accessibility that closely accommodated the client's needs. Thanks to our pool of in-house owners and agents our partnership with CAMBA case-managers, Ms. Harris was able to meet the lease date & receive her new house keys. Though HSU primarily works with agents and owners, we remain faithful to NYers like Ms. Harris. Learn more about leasing your apartment to voucher holders at nyc.gov/hsu.

Mayor's Canvass with Tenant Support Unit

Mayor Eric Adams hit the streets with our Tenant Support Unit (TSU) in The Bronx. Watch a video of him talking about it here! Together, we knocked on doors to spread the word about rent benefits for tenants across the City. The PEU team assisted clients with their SCRIE/DRIE Rent Freeze applications, shared information about Tenant’s Rights, and offered Benefits Screenings.

Our Tenant Support Unit (TSU) provides free information on tenants’ rights, assistance navigating housing-related issues, and connection to a range of resources, including the Tenant Resource Portal, anti-eviction legal assistance through the City’s Right-to-Counsel program, the home repairs program, and rent freeze and homeowners tax exemption programs. To contact the Tenant Support Unit:

• For information on tenants rights and the Right-to-Counsel, call 311 and ask for the “Tenant Helpline,” or visit nyc.gov/TenantSupportUnit
• For information on rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption programs, call the hotline at (929) 252-7242 or visit nyc.gov/RentFreeze

Town Hall on COVID-19 Vaccines for Children

In partnership with City Hall and NYC Health + Hospitals, PEU organized two virtual town hall meetings to provide New Yorkers with up to date information about COVID-19 vaccines for children 6 months and older. PEU assisted in promoting the event through peer-to-peer texting and social media outreach. Roughly 500 people watched these town halls to learn more about vaccinating our youngest New Yorkers!

Missed it? You can watch the recording here. (All information is accurate as of 7/19/2022.)

Fair Fares

PEU launched a texting campaign targeting New Yorkers who are enrolled in SNAP or Cash Assistance, but have not signed up for Fair Fares discount. Through the City Council and Mayor's Office's Fair Fares program, low-income New Yorkers can get a 50% discount on MetroCards—both pay-per-ride and weekly and monthly unlimited— Following the texting campaign, PEU and the Department of Social Services hosted a press conference on Friday, August 12 to celebrate an outreach day of action across subway stations citywide to promote the Fair Fares NYC program. The event featured tabling with City agencies, including PEU, DSS Fair Fares, the Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, IDNYC, and others. Learn more about being eligible and applying at nyc.gov/FairFares.

SPECIALIST SPOTLIGHT

During our recent Health Care Week of Action, GetCoveredNYC Specialist Tania spoke about her work with GetCoveredNYC. Tania highlighted a recent client she worked with, Sandra, who contacted the GetCoveredNYC team after being diagnosed with cancer.

Sandra came to Tania with many questions and uncertainties about whether she would qualify for her treatments. Tania listened to these fears, assured Sandra that she would not go without care in New York City, and helped her enroll in health coverage. Sandra is now receiving the treatment she needs through NYC Care. She had the following to say about her experience with Tania, “More than connecting me with health coverage through NYC Care, she gave me baby steps about how to find treatment to feel the way I do right now. I feel safe.”

To our GetCoveredNYC team, experiences like this are what bring them to the work. According to Tania, “I see GetCoveredNYC as the team that opens the door to our clients. Not only to be enrolled with NYC Care, or health insurance, but as the door that opens and creates trust between the city services and New York City residents.” Click here to watch more of Tania’s speech.

To contact GetCoveredNYC, call 311 and say “Get Covered,” text CoveredNYC to 877877, or visit nyc.gov/GetCoveredNYC.

TWEET OF THE MONTH

IN THE NEWS

• Univision: Noticias Univisión 41—A las Seis (Fair Fares Outreach Segment) - August 12, 2022
• News 12 The Bronx: City kicks off outreach campaign to boost participation in MTA’s Fair Fares program - August 12, 2022
• NBC New York: Spreading the Word on Fair Fares - August 12, 2022
• Vision Times: NYC Care Holds Successful Healthcare ‘Week of Action,’ Holding Events in All Five Boroughs - August 8, 2022
• Forum Daily: Ньюйоркцев бесплатно обучают безопасности на воде: где проходят мероприятия (New Yorkers are taught water safety for free: Here's where the events take place) - August 3, 2022
• Harlem World: NYC Health + Hospitals, Mayor’s Public Engagement Unit Launched Healthcare Week Of Action, One Borough Each Day - August 3, 2022
• World Journal: 亞當斯力推全民健保 無論移民身分 均享醫療權利 (Adams pushes for universal healthcare, regardless of immigration status) - July 31, 2022
• Univision: Programas De Verano De La Unidad De Participación Pública Del Alcalde De NYC - July 30, 2022
• BronxNet: OPEN BxRx Tuesday | NYC Rent Freeze Program - July 26, 2022
• New America: Strengthening Models of Civic Engagement - July 22, 2022

RESOURCES & ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Mental health counselors are available 24 hours a day to provide free support in many languages. You can contact them directly by calling 1-888-NYC-WELL.
• NYC Fair Fares: Eligible New York City residents can get a 50% discount on eligible transportation. Help us to spread the word by sharing this HRA toolkit or check your eligibility at nyc.gov/fairfares or call 311.
• There is a new Affordable Connectivity Program to help you pay for broadband internet service! Qualifying individuals and families can receive up to $30 per month off their broadband costs. You can learn more about and sign up for the Affordable Connectivity Program here: GetInternet.gov.
• There are more than 30 programs you or your family may be eligible for regardless of immigration status and even if you’re already receiving benefits or have a job. Use ACCESS NYC to find help in NYC with food, money, housing, work and more.