Happy Holidays from DVS

Happy Holidays from the New York City Department of Veterans' Services. We wish you a bright, prosperous, and healthy 2021. 

Ways to Serve this Holiday Season

Last Saturday, Team DVS joined Toys for Tots to hand out 1800 toys to veteran families in the Bronx. Learn how you can volunteer this holiday season here.

Your Next Ride Is On Us

Get $25 off Your Next Lyft Ride

NYC is helping veterans and their families take care of business this holiday season! We're offering veterans $25 off their next Lyft ride to the grocery store or post office.

This offer is valid through December 31, 2020, or while supplies last. 

 Sign up here.

COVID-19 Rent Relief  Extension

Everything You Need to Know About
NY's COVID Rent Relief Program

New York has extended the COVID Rent Relief Program! The program provides eligible households with a one-time rental subsidy paid directly to the landlord. Learn more about the program below:

Overview

• This program can cover the rent for April, May, June, and July of 2020
• Applicants will not need to repay this assistance
• Applications are not considered on a first come first serve basis. Eligible households who are most in greatest need will be prioritized 
• If you applied to this program before the original July 30th, 2020, deadline, you will not have to reapply. All applications that were previously denied will be reconsidered and will receive an updated determination letter
• The deadline to apply is Monday, February 1st, 2021

Eligibility Requirements

• Must be a renter whose primary residence is in New York State
• Applicants must have lost income during the following period: April 1, 2020 - July 31, 2020
• Before March 7, 2020, the household income must have been at or below 80% of the Area Median Income, adjusted for household size
• Households must be “rent-burdened” during the months they are applying for assistance. Households are considered “rent-burdened” if they pay at least 30% of income in rent.

DVS Programs & Initiatives 

Reaching Out to Veterans Across NYC

Feeding Veterans in Need

Helping File VA Claims

Housing Veterans During the Pandemic

Veteran Voices Project: Oral History Initiative

DVS Website

Review our new website at nyc.gov/vets or take a closer look at our new webpages below:

Connect to Services:

• Benefit and VA Claims Services 
• Employment and Employer Resources 
• Financial Assistance Resources 
• Food Services 
• Health Resources 
• Housing Support Services 
• Legal Services 
• LGBT Veterans 
• Mental Health Services 
• Military Families and Caretakers 
• Senior Veterans 
• Student Veterans 
• Women Veterans 
• Veterans with Disabilities 
• Veteran Organizations and Businesses 
• Volunteer Opportunities 

• Arrange a Burial or Funeral 
• Hire a Veteran 
• House a Veteran 
• Volunteer with Veterans 

• Weekly Newsletter 
• Social Media 
• SITREP Podcast 
• Veteran Voices Project: Oral History Library 
• Videos 

• Partner with DVS
• Press Inquiries

Contact DVS

Referral Services: vetconnectnyc.org or 1-833-VETS-NYC

VA Claims & Food Donations

• Latisha Russaw
  (917) 605-0325 | lrussaw@veterans.nyc.gov​

• Eileen Barcene​
  (646) 499-0055​ | ebarcene@veterans.nyc.gov

Employment Services:

• Christian T. Peralta​
  (646) 630-1932​ | cperalta1@veterans.nyc.gov​

Education Services and Unemployment Assistance​:

• Amauri Espinal​
  (646) 799-2728​ | aespinal@veterans.nyc.gov

• Dana Rock, HSS Director​
  (646) 901-4948​ | DanaRock@veterans.nyc.gov​
• Horng Chou, HSS Deputy Director​
  (646) 532-1884​ | Hchou@veterans.nyc.gov​

Eviction Prevention:​

• Angela Guyton-Cyril​
  (646) 740-8156​ | AGuyton-Cyril@veterans.nyc.gov​

• Melissa Walters​
  (646) 889-4180​ | Mewalters@veterans.nyc.gov

• Tanya Thomas​
  (646) 499-0098​ | tthomas@veterans.nyc.gov