COVID Rent Relief Program

Deadline to Apply for Rent Relief is Today (7/30)!

The COVID Rent Relief Program (RRP) was established to help reduce the rent burden for low-income households during the COVID-19 crisis. The deadline to apply for the relief program is TODAY (July, 30th)! 

If you're struggling to pay for housing or owe back rent, please apply ASAP by following this link. 

To learn more about COVID RRP, watch this video PSA.  

Need to Know

Census 2020 Week of Action

 Just over 53% of NYC households have responded to the census. This means our City can lose billions in federal funding for critical programs. Our region also stands to lose political representation in Congress and in Albany. Want to fix this? Here's what you can do:

Thursday, July 30th: Friends and Families Day of Action
Call or text 10 family members to remind them to complete the census. Sign up here.

Friday, July 31st: Text Out the Count
Using the peer-to-peer texting platform Hustle, you can remind thousands of New Yorkers to complete the census. Sign up here. 

Saturday, August 1st: Citywide Day of Action
Sign up here to distribute flyers and assist New Yorkers in completing the census on the spot at locations throughout the five boroughs.

How to Beat COVID-19

NYC is providing FREE testing and COVID-19 tracing for all New Yorkers. This is how we are going to beat the virus and get back to the city we love. Find free COVID-19 testing here.

Contact Tracers with the NYC Test and Trace Corps are calling New Yorkers who have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. Please answer the phone if you get a call from:

• Test+Trace
• a 212 number

A contact tracer will NEVER:

• ask for your Social Security number
• ask for any private financial information
• ask for credit card information
• send you a link without proper authentication procedures

All calls are confidential and private.

Jobs for Veterans

COVID-19 Engagement

 NYC is looking for Community Engagement workers to join the COVID-19 relief efforts. Learn more about the available positions:

Community Engagement Specialist:

The Community Engagement Specialist performs community outreach in support of COVID-19 contact tracing and is responsible for locating cases and contacts across NYC. Learn more and apply here.

Community Engagement Supervisor:

The Community Engagement Supervisor provides oversight and support for Contact Tracers. Supervisors ensure that Contact Tracers follow all scripts, policies, and procedures. Supervisors either supervise a team of Contact Tracers working remotely or a team working in the field. Learn more and apply here.  

FDNY

There are more than 1,400 members of the FDNY who are veterans or military reservists, and the department is committed to recruiting more service members. Learn how you can serve your City by joining the FDNY here. 

EmpireVets: Online Veteran Job Board

EmpireVets is a new job board that includes thousands of postings and a military skills translator to help veterans find the right career. Current opportunities posted include positions in graphic design, scientific research, education, and sales. Learn more here.

EmpireVets is a partnership between DVS and the GI Go Fund. EmpireVets is sponsored by the Gantcher Family Foundation.

Financial Support Resources

Hope for the Heroes: Critical Care Coordination

The Hope For The Warriors' Critical Care Coordination program offers financial support and education to post 9/11 veterans, military families, and survivors of trauma who have experienced a loss of income due to:

• Delays in disability claims processing
• Homelessness
• Injury
• Unexpected expenses

Learn more and apply here.

Grants for Military Children

Attention military families: You can get help paying for music lessons, tutoring, and camp for your kids!

Our Military Kids is offering grants of up to $300 to pay for extracurricular activities for children of currently-deployed National Guard and Reserve service members (stateside and overseas), as well as injured veterans. Learn more and apply here.

Online Veteran Events

Hiring Our Heroes: Logistics Virtual Hiring Fair

Hiring Our Heroes is hosting a Virtual Hiring Fair focused on positions in supply chain management, logistics, and transportation. This event is open to transitioning service members, veterans, military spouses, and military caregivers.

Employers scheduled to participate include Amazon, FASTPORT, FedEx, PRIME, Inc., Ryder Systems, TMC Transportation, Troops Into Transportation, Walmart, and Werner.

WHEN: Friday, July 31st | 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm
Register here before 6:00 pm on Thursday, July 30th.

DVS Programs & Initiatives

Get Food Delivered

DVS is working with Get Food NYC to send food directly to veterans who are unable to leave their homes - including seniors and disabled veterans. If you’re a veteran and need help getting food, contact us at (212) 416-5250 or connect@veterans.nyc.gov.

Housing Support & Eviction Prevention

During this crisis, the DVS Housing team has worked harder than ever to rehouse homeless veterans and support veterans facing eviction. If you’re a veteran and you’re worried you may get evicted, contact us NOW at 212-416-5250 or connect@veterans.nyc.gov.

Mission: VetCheck

Volunteers with Mission: VetCheck are calling veterans across NYC to give them information on vital public services, COVID-19 testing sites, and online mental health resources. Reach out to your fellow veteran and join the mission today.

Helping Veterans File VA Claims

This is a moment for collaboration.

The New York State Division of Veterans' Services and the NYC Department of Veterans' Services have partnered to process VA benefits claims. Now NYC veterans and their families will have an easier time getting their benefits!

For more information, contact: benefitclaims@veterans.nyc.gov.

Get Certified with NYC

Against all odds, minority and women veterans get the job done. That’s why NYC wants to work with you!
 
If you’re a veteran minority or woman business owner, you can become M/WBE certified and win City contracts. Learn more here. 
 
Have questions? Contact business@veterans.nyc.gov.

Contact DVS

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​

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

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

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