A staffer explains the process of enrollment | PEU Photo
NEW YORK – Three New York City agencies have launched a week of action to enroll older New Yorkers and those with disabilities into programs to reduce housing costs.
New Yorkers 62 years or older or have a disability may qualify to freeze their rent. In addition, New Yorkers who are 65 years or older or have a disability may qualify for a tax exemption if they own a home.
According to the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement (PEU), which partnered with the Department of Finance (DOF) and the Department for the Aging (NYC Aging) in this outreach, there are currently thousands of New Yorkers that qualify for these money-saving programs but are not enrolled. Due to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 saw a decrease in rent freeze program enrollments. Additionally, the deadline to apply or renew for many homeowner tax exemptions is coming up on March 15, including the Senior Citizen Homeowners’ Exemption (SCHE), the Disabled Homeowners’ Exemption (DHE), and several others found here.
As part of this effort to increase enrollments, staff from PEU, Department for the Aging (NYC Aging), and DOF will be in older adult centers in underserved communities providing one-on-one support and conducting targeted phone outreach to alert New Yorkers of these benefits.
Early enrollees save more.
To kick off the week of action, PEU, the Department of Finance (DOF), and NYC Aging held a press conference highlighting the importance of enrolling in both rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption programs as soon as possible. PEU, DOF, and NYC Aging staff were onsite canvassing information about the programs and helping people enroll. Speakers at the press conference included the Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez, Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement Executive Director Adrienne Lever, Department of Finance Taxpayer Advocate Robin Lee, Center for Adults Living Well @ the Y Director Dee Hernandez, and Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement Rent Freeze Specialist Shaquanna Parnell.
PEU said that the earlier New Yorkers enroll in these programs, the more money they can save. The City has many resources available to help New York’s renters and owners with this process, including helplines and in-person opportunities.
Eligible New Yorkers can get free, one-on-one support to enroll in NYC’s rent freeze and homeowner tax exemption programs in the following ways:
- Call 929-252-7242 to connect with the NYC Public Engagement Unit’s Hotline.
- Call 311 and say “Rent Freeze” to connect with the Department of Finance.
- Call NYC Aging Connect at 212-AGING-NY (212-244-6469) or go to one of the 300+ NYC Aging-affiliated older adult centers.
“Affordable housing is critical in helping older adults age in their communities, amongst friends and family. Rent Freeze programs like SCRIE and DRIE help eligible New Yorkers stay in their homes and avoid being displaced by rent increases they can’t afford. Lamentably, many people who qualify for these programs don’t enroll,” said Department for the Aging Commissioner Lorraine Cortés-Vázquez. “The City is here to help ensure everyone who is eligible applies. There are over 300 older adult centers across the City where older New Yorkers can get guidance and support in the Rent Freeze application process. Visit your local center and enroll today.”
Meanwhile, DOF Commissioner Preston Niblack said, “The Department of Finance offers a number of financial benefits for eligible New Yorkers in the form of tax exemptions, abatements, and money-saving programs to help renters and property owners save on their taxes, pay less in rent, and continue to live in their homes.”
Targeted outreach
As part of the week of action, the Mayor’s Office of Public Engagement will do targeted text outreach to thousands of older New Yorkers to inform them about the rent freeze and homeowner tax exemptions. PEU’s Rent Freeze team will screen New Yorkers for eligibility, provide information about the programs, and schedule follow-ups for in-person and phone assistance for the submission of applications and documents at older adult centers.
PEU and DOF staff will also be in-person at the below older adult centers to continue to support residents following the week of action to provide support to older New Yorkers in applying for the rent freeze and property tax break programs:
The NYC Department of Finance (DOF) recently released its 2022 Annual Rent Freeze Report. The NYC Rent Freeze Program, which includes the Senior Citizen Rent Increase Exemption (SCRIE) Program and the Disability Rent Increase Exemption (DRIE) Program, helps those eligible stay in affordable housing by freezing their rent, potentially saving them hundreds of dollars a month as long as they remain in the program. DOF said the longer the individual remains in the program, the higher their benefits will be due to increases in what the landlord could legally charge per the NYC Rent Guidelines Board. This makes renewing rent freeze benefits crucial to the program’s success and ensures New Yorkers receive maximum benefits.
According to the 2022 Rent Freeze Report, on average, SCRIE and DRIE recipients who have been enrolled in the Rent Freeze Program for five to ten years save between $176 and $191 a month, respectively. For recipients in the program for ten to fifteen years, the benefit increases to an average of $307 for SCRIE recipients and $340 a month for DRIE recipients.
–With Jay Domingo/PDM
