Postcards for Housing Access
More than 150,000 people in New York State are homeless, and 175,000 households are at risk of eviction. The Housing Access Voucher Program (HAVP) would create a statewide rental subsidy to help folks get housed and stay housed. New Yorkers need HAVP in this year’s state budget--but Governor Hochul is holding it up! Join the Open Hearts Initiative on Sunday, March 23, from 3pm-4:30pm on the Upper West Side (location will be shared upon RSVP) to write postcards to Governor Hochul and help your neighbors do the same! We'll be meeting at an Open Hearts member's apartment, and all supplies will be provided. No expertise required--just interest in taking action to support neighbors experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity!
RSVP using the form below for the postcard event on Sunday, March 23! You’re welcome to stop by or stay the whole time, whatever you prefer!
Other ways to help:
Policy Committee Documentary Film Screening
The Policy Committee is hosting a watch Party for documentary "Finland Solved Homelessness: Here's How (Spoiler: It's More Than Housing First)" - about 30 minutes of film followed by discussion
For the address or Zoom link, please email Bennett at bennett@openheartsinitiative.org.
WHY: So we can learn more about homelessness/housing policy and get to know each other better!
Take Action to Stop the 60 Day Notices
On July 19th, Mayor Eric Adams announced that, in the coming days, NYC will start to give adult asylum-seekers who are staying in shelters operated by the City "60-day notices" directing them to find other housing accommodations. If they are not able to do so within 60 days, they will lose their current shelter placement–where they have begun to build community ties, and possibly started going to work or receive education and social services–and have to reapply at the arrival center, at which point a new shelter placement may not be available to them. In fact, on the evening of July 19th, many asylum-seekers at the arrival center were given a notice that there were no available beds and they would have to wait–possibly sleeping unsheltered–until accommodations became available in the future.
We believe that shelter and housing are human rights that apply to everyone, whether you've lived in NYC your whole life or just got here. The City must #Stopthe60DayNotices and provide shelter to all who need it. And just as we welcome any New Yorker experiencing homelessness, we welcome asylum-seekers as neighbors at shelter facilities in our own backyards, even as some residents and politicians have tried to keep them out.
Join the Open Hearts Initiative in creating a chain of support on social media by posting your support for welcoming asylum-seekers in your neighborhood. The more people who participate, the stronger a message we’ll all send to the city that New Yorkers welcome new neighbors and want everyone to have a place to stay.
NYC's Involuntary Removal Directive: What It Means & Why It's a Problem
Have you been hearing about NYC’s recent directive to make it easier to involuntarily remove folks from the streets & transport them to hospitals? Next week, join us and NY Docs to learn what the directive means & why it’s a problem, from folks with lived experience.
The panel discussion is on Tuesday, Feb 28 @ 7pm on Zoom. RSVP is required, and all are welcome.
Fair Chance for Housing Rally and Hearing
The City Council is holding a hearing on the Fair Chance for Housing Act, Intro. 632 on December 8, 2022! We need everyone to show up and voice your support.
TIMES:
• Rally on the steps of City Hall from 9:00am -10:00am.
• City Council Hearing from 10:00am-1:00pm
Join us to rally at City Hall at 9am for the Fair Chance for Housing Act, which would ban discrimination in housing on the basis of a person’s conviction record, and will be having a hearing in the City Council that day. Want to testify at the hearing or show support in other ways? Reach out to us at info@openheartsinitiative.org!
RSVP to attend the rally and/or testify at: bit.ly/fc4h-dec8