Pathway Home housing assistance program in New York City
Rent assistance, including longer term subsidies and low income housing, is provided from a NYC boroughs wide program known as Pathway Home. New York City as well as the state created this resource to help the currently homeless, that are in a shelter, both get rehoused and gain the self-sufficiency they need to remain living in their new apartment or home. Find information below on how Pathway Home will help someone move from a shelter to a new home of someone they already know.
The program, formally known as LINC, is extensive and is a form of Housing First. The person enrolled into Pathway Home will need to live with someone they know - a friend or family. There may be government issued grants to pay for various housing costs, including first months rent, utility connections, or a security deposit. But the goal is to help people (or families) get out of a shelter into their own permanent home.
Main components of Pathway Home rehousing
There are four main components of Pathway Home, and they include below. In all cases, the applicant to Pathway Home will be leaving with a friend or family member, with the city subsidizing rent for a year or longer.
- One priority is focused on domestic violence survivors, including women, single parents, migrants and children. They will often get priority.
- There is also assistance for the working poor/low income that just can’t afford a place to live in NYC.
- Another option is on the longer term homeless. There is housing assistance for families that have had multiple stays in a shelter.
- There may even be some priority for this given to individuals on SSI or a senior citizen in New York City.
There is a strong commitment needed from program participants as well, and they will need to pay a portion of their income towards their rent and housing costs in the future. However the program can be combined with other local NYC rent assistance programs.
Both the Human Resources Administration (HRA) as well as the NYC Department of Homeless Services, or DHS, process applications and ensure the funds get to those that need help. They will identify the families or the currently homeless person that can benefit from this rental assistance programs and help them with the application process. More terms and conditions of the program are below, however the aid will also prioritize those individuals that are currently a guest or residing in a shelter in New York City.
As noted, housing stability is also a key requirement, as this will prevent future homelessness or an eviction. So anyone that applies or benefits from the Pathway Home (formally Living in Communities program) needs to enroll into these services. The self-sufficiency is also run in partnership with organizations such as free legal aid, the HomeBase homeless prevention programs, and local charities. If and when needed, individuals can also look into the HRA emergency assistance grants for any back rent that they may owe.
Focus of rent assistance from Pathway Home
These individuals with long term, chronic homelessness may receive help with their monthly rent for multiple months or even a year or longer. So this is a longer term solution that is combined with budgeting, employment, food, and other forms of assistance.
As funding allows from Pathway Home, the family or friend that the client is staying with will get a subsidy from the NYC Pathway Home program. In effect, the city will provide money to the current property owner to help them pay for their bills.
Other services can help the individual or working family find a new home or apartment in New York City, and this is an option for all boroughs such as Queen or the Bronx. DHS wants to ensure the family moves into a safe and affordable home so they can maintain it over the long term.
Residents impacted by domestic violence that needed to move into a shelter or transitional housing unit can also apply. There are conditions in place as well, and the applicant needs to be receiving public assistance or some type of government aid. They also need to be certified by Human Resources Administration as a DV survivor.
What may be provided, in addition to money to pay rent, includes legal aid to ensure the victim is safe. They can also get help in locating a new apartment and paying the rental deposit on it. Then, more longer term stability and subsidies will be provided to the client as part of Pathway Home, as the intent is to prevent future homelessness in New York City.
Applying to Pathway Home
One key different for this program is that HRA or the Department of Homeless Services will contact the individual directly to help them enroll. However the phone number to try is (800) 994-6494, but in general this is not a resource that individuals can apply to directly.
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