Moving Shelter Residents into Permanent Housing

With NYC's vacancy rate at just 1.4%, ensuring housing for those in shelters is increasingly difficult. That is why PEU’s Home Support Unit is forging strong partnerships with brokers and property owners to help move more New Yorkers into permanent stable homes.

Last week, our team joined Mayor Adams as he announced back-to-back record years for creating and connecting New Yorkers to affordable housing.

Thanks to our Home Support Unit Specialist Yvonne and Ms. Nunez, a partner from an NYC brokerage firm; the mayor presented new apartment keys to a New Yorker they had worked together to house. Allen is a 61 year old with significant history in New York City’s shelter system and last week, thanks to the tireless efforts of Yvonne and our network of brokers, he moved into his new permanent home.

Yvonne works at our Home Support Unit (HSU), which partners with real estate brokers, rental owners, and property managers to rent vacant units to New Yorkers receiving rental assistance. In doing this, we find new housing opportunities for those exiting shelters and save the City tens of thousands of dollars each year for each family or individual who moves into a new home. Navigating the voucher ecosystem can be complex and intimidating. That’s where we come in: to bridge the gap between the housing market and bureaucratic government systems.

New York State licensed real estate brokers are force multipliers in our city’s historically tight rental market. Brokers regularly vouch for vouchers to property owners, connecting them to qualified tenants and assisting with all aspects of the lease-up process. By linking up Ms. Nunez and her brokerage to DHS housing providers, Yvonne didn't just find one unit for Allen: together, they matched over 40 shelter families in Allen’s new apartment building alone.

HSU Specialists like Yvonne provide one-on-one concierge services for our real estate partners. Working with HSU promises brokers right-sized viewings with logistic support, paperwork review, inspection assistance, magnified marketing and recruitment of prospective qualified tenants, and help to navigate City government. These services are on top of the benefits that come with vouchers, which often include a broker’s incentive of 15% of annual rent.

We demystify the system for brokers and property owners so they know what is expected of them and can avoid unnecessary delays. We send a monthly newsletter keeping real estate subscribers informed of new policies and voucher developments: sign up for the HSU newsletter here. We also recently released a new apartment checklist to help prepare for HRA inspections.

Want to get in touch? Contact HSU here.