Mount Vernon United Tenants

Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)

Our HPP remains our biggest program activity. Day-in, day-out, we’re filing funding applications for tenants facing non- payment petitions. Since the pandemic, many tenants who had lost income during the shutdown (loss of job, reduction in hours, etc.), have not been able to get their income level back to where it was pre-pandemic. MVUT have assisted literally hundreds of tenants in accessing the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds. The ERAP funds could pay up to twelve (12) months’ back rent and additionally three (3) months’ rent going forward, for a maximum of fifteen (15) months. Many tenants however lost more than fifteen (15) months of income as a result of the pandemic. We see numerous tenants who still owe $10,000.00, $15,000.00 and more! Even after they’ve received the maximum ERAP funds! The work in processing Westchester County “Universal” applications for rent arrears assistance is especially time and energy intensive. Karen Heim has been particularly outstanding in working with the tenant clients in applying for and receiving financial assistance to pay their rent arrears. Way to go, Karen! We also continue to utilize various methods, in fighting their evictions. Just recently via Zoor we’ve helped represent tenants in Westchester Human Rights’ Commission and New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (NYS-DHCR) Conferences to maintain their tenancies.

Tenant Action Project (TAP)

A few new building organizing campaigns on the horizon are 159-165 East Third St., 256 New Main St. in Yonkers and Greater Centennial Homes. We’ll be doing some city-wide flyering of the enclosed fund-raising flyer: “Attention Mt. Vernon Tenants” and we’d expect that we’ll get requests for organizing assistance from that. We’ll keep you posted. As part of our TAP we helped organize a “Rally and Court Watch” in Yonkers on March 24. We’re enclosing a copy of a 3/31/23 article in the Journal News regarding this.

“Fair Housing Month”

April was “Fair Housing Month” and MVUT participated in a number of events in recognition of “Fair Housing.” “Fair Housing” is a twelve (12) month issue and if people have experienced any form of discrimination or know someone who has experienced discrimination, please call the MVUT office at (914) 699-1114 and we’ll direct them who to call.

Mt. Vernon Comprehensive Plan

Mt. Vernon United Tenants (MVUT) has been on the Advisory Committee for Mt. Vernon’s Comprehensive Plan Committee and has been participating with them the last few months. On April 25 there was a city-wide Public Workshop on the “Comp Plan” at the Mt. Vernon Boys and Girls Club. There are five (5) different subcommittees for the “Comp Plan”. They are:

1) Open Space & Parks
2) Mobility and Transportation
3) Business & Economics
4) Housing
5) Downtown Revitalization

There will be subsequent meetings of the “Comp Plan.” If you or someone you know would like to get involved with the “Comp Plan,” call the Associate Planning Commissioner Katherine Mella at (914) 508-8086.

Support Tenants’ Rights!

Support Affordable Housing! !

Support MVUT!!!*

*Please fill out the enclosed Funding Appeal and return it to MVUT!

Download Early May 2023 News and Update:

MVUT – Early May 2023 Update
Funding Appeal Form and News Clip
LoHud Article on Good Cause Eviction

Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)

We reported in the last mailing that the federally funded Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) ended as of January 20, 2023. The ERAP provided essential funding for families and individuals that had either lost income or had additional expenses as a result of Covid-19. This was a real “Life Saver” nationwide for those who were successful in their ERAP application. MVUT assisted 460 tenants in filing ERAP applications and as far as we know they were all successful! That’s 460 evictions prevented! WOW!! And a special shout-out to Andrew Aguilar from our office who processed almost all of the applications. Great Job Andrew!

RALLY & COURT WATCH AT YONKERS HOUSING COURT

Friday, March 24th at 10am 10am: Rally @ 100 South Broadway 10:45am: Court Tour & Observation
RSVP to learn more about the week of action: https://bit.ly/RTCWeekofAction

Download Yonkers Rally and Court Watch Flyer

Introducing Legal Hand Call-In Center serving Westchester County

Legal Hand has arrived in Westchester County! Based on our powerful model of neighbors helping neighbors, our highly trained volunteers, who are not lawyers, provide free legal information, assistance and referrals for serious life issues in the areas of: Housing, Immigration, Family Issues, Domestic Violence, Elderly Rights, Employment, Public Benefits and many other challenges.
And our Call-In volunteers are ready to help and easy to reach. There are no eligibility requirements and everyone is welcome!

Call or Text: 914-425-5483
Email: Westchesterhelp [@] legalhand.org

We are open weekdays, evenings and Saturdays
For hours, visit: www.legalhand.org/westchester

Legal Hand Call-In Center serving Westchester County, operated by the Elisabeth Haub School of Law at Pace University

Download Legal Hand Flyer

Download NY Project Hope Flyer

Download Mid-March News and Update mailing (PDF)

Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)

Our HPIP continues to fight and stop evictions in Mt. Vernon and throughout Westchester County. We have been providing services via the Emergency Rental Assistance Proqram (ERAP) for the last couple of years. The ERAP was for families and individuals who had either lost income or had additional expenses as a result of Covid-19. The ERAP ended January 20,2023 and we will no longer be able to secure thert funding for tenants who had fallen into arrears as a result of Covid-19. We will continue to provide case management assistance for any tenants who are facing eviction. Please let tenants in your building know of the ending of ERAP and MVUT’s continuing efforts to fight all evictions (see below on the Winter Eviction Moratorium.)

Tenant Action Project (TAP)

Our TAP is our building organizing component – where we assist tenants in forming effectivra tenants’ associations within their building to improve services, fight landlord harassment, negotiate more affordable rents and to become more able to represent theiir buildings” interest.