The City of New York's rental assistance program, Work Advantage, is available to families and individuals currently in a Housing Stability Plus (HSP) apartment who are working at least 20 hours per week at minimum wage or greater, and are on Public Assistance or in Single Issue status.  If you are in the HSP program and meet these criteria, you may be eligible to convert from HSP to Work Advantage.

If you are currently not working, you may find work and become eligible for Work Advantage. You may go to your Job Center to get help in finding a job.  HSP households with a family member in sanction status may not convert to Work Advantage until the sanction ends and all program criteria are met.  The City will check periodically for eligibility based on employment income and issue detailed letters of eligibility for switching to Work Advantage.  Eligible HSP recipients must convert to Work Advantage by October 31, 2008.

After starting work, your income must show up on your Public Assistance budget for an eligibility letter to be generated.  Contact your HRA Job Center to ensure that your income is on your budget.

For general questions, contact the Quality Assurance unit at 212-607-5310.  Please note that Quality Assurance cannot specifically verify and confirm employment income for purposes of eligibility. Only your HRA Job Center can do that.

Eligibility

Tenants receive a one year rental subsidy with the possibility of a second year extension if they meet the eligibility criteria including:

• Demonstrated work
• Continued financial need
• Timely $50 monthly rent payments to landlords
• Demonstrated monthly savings

Once an HSP tenant receives a letter stating he/she qualifies for the Advantage program, a Participant Statement of Understanding should be signed and returned to the Office of Re-Housing. The statement should be mailed to:

Department of Homeless Services
Office of Re-Housing
33 Beaver Street, 14th Floor
New York, NY 10004

HSP tenants transitioning or 'flipping' to the Work Advantage program may choose to:

• Stay in their current apartment (i.e., 'Flip in Place')

OR

• Search for a new apartment that accepts the Work Advantage program

To relocate to a new HSP apartment, you may transfer your HSP subsidy at the end of your lease or before your lease ends if your landlord agrees, or under special circumstances.  If relocating, call the DHS Office of Re-Housing Call Center's Quality Assurance Unit at 212-607-5310.

Lease Signing

To convert their apartment to the Work Advantage program, landlords must call the Office of Re-Housing Call Center at 212-607-5310 and register the apartment with the appropriate tax identification information.  The apartment will then be processed for a Work Advantage lease.  There will be no apartment inspection when 'Flipping in Place'.

If a new apartment is located, either on your own or with the help of a broker, the apartment must be registered by the broker or landlord and inspected and linked by DHS' Office of Re-Housing.  Landlords/broker's can call the Office of Re-Housing Call Center at 212-607-5310 to register apartments and schedule an inspection.

After an apartment is linked, anticipate having less than 24-hours notice of lease-signing appointments. The Office of Re-Housing is scheduling leases as quickly as possible and may therefore contact tenants and landlords/brokers on very short notice.

The broker's fee for Advantage NY is 15%. Future monthly rental payments will be paid directly to the landlord and are not affected by your Public Assistance status.

A broker's fee will not be offered when 'flipping in place', i.e., remaining in the same apartment.

Side Deals

Side-deals are prohibited and under no circumstances will tenants be required to pay any additional amount above that stipulated on the lease. Additionally, you should receive keys at lease signing for no additional fee.

Time Saving Tips

DHS has two locations available for signing Advantage NY program leases: 890 Prospect Avenue in the Bronx, or 78 Catherine Street in Manhattan. Clients are encouraged to:

• Make pre-arrangements for childcare to avoid bringing children to lease signing if possible, as the space is small.
• Allow extra time for public transportation and walking as the location is a 10-15 minute walk from the closest subway. Public buses also are available.
• Arrive at your scheduled lease-signing time. (Lease signing schedule is based in the order that the tenant signs the Lease Signing Log)

Directions :

890 Prospect Avenue, Bronx
Subway: Take the #2 or the #5 train to the Prospect Ave. stop. Exit at East 160 Street.

OR take the #6 train to the Longwood Ave. stop. Exit near the intersection of Southern Blvd. and Longwood Ave. Walk west (toward Fox St.) on Longwood Ave. for six blocks. Turn right onto Prospect Ave.

Bus: Take BX-4 or BX-6 or BX-17 or BX-19 or BX-35 to Prospect Ave.

78 Catherine Street, Manhattan
Subway: Take the #4 or the #5 or the #6 train to the Brooklyn Bridge/City Hall stop. Exit near the intersection of Frankfort St. and Nassau St.  Walk east on Frankfort St. Turn left onto Rose St. Turn right onto Madison St. Turn right onto Catherine St.

OR take the J or M or Z train to the Chambers St. stop. Exit near the intersection of Duane St. and Lafayette St. Walk east on Duane St. toward Centre St. Turn left on Centre St. Turn right on Hamill Pl. Turn right on Worth St. Turn right on St. James Pl. Turn right on Oliver St. Turn left on Madison St. Turn right on Catherine St.

OR take the F train to the East Broadway stop. Exit near the intersection of Rutgers St. and Madison St. Start out going west on Madison St. toward Pike St. Turn left onto Catherine St.

Moving

The Advantage Program tenants should contact their HRA Job Center in order to request funds for moving expenses.

Rental Payments

The Work Advantage program rental payments will be made by the City directly to the landlord on a monthly basis until the expiration of the one-year lease. Following is a chart outlining the rental supplement amount.

Amount of Rental Supplement
(Not to Exceed Legal Rent) 

Family Composition	1 person	2 person	3 and 4 person	5 and 6 person	7 and 8 person
Maximum Rent	$889	$962	$1,070	$1,316	$1,481
Client	$50	$50	$50	$50	$50
Maximum Rent Subsidy	$839	$912	$1,020	$1,266	$1,431

Tenants and landlords will have access to HomeBase, DHS' nationally recognized homelessness prevention program, for "aftercare" services including:

• Tenant conflict resolution
• Tenant recertification assistance
• Good neighbor education
• Payment resolution

For more information about these services, contact the Office of Re-Housing call center at 212-607-5310 .

STAYING ON HSP

Converting to Work Advantage will end your participation in the HSP program.  If you choose not to convert to Work Advantage, there will be no further step-down of your HSP rent supplement.  Your HSP supplement amount has been frozen at the current level for the remainder of your five years in the HSP program.  Please note that your HSP rent supplement will still be affected by disruptions to your Public Assistance case or the closing of your case.  For example, if your case is sanctioned, the amount of rent paid by the City on your behalf will be reduced.