{"id":924,"date":"2023-05-19T14:35:28","date_gmt":"2023-05-19T19:35:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mvut.org\/blog\/?p=924"},"modified":"2026-02-20T17:08:22","modified_gmt":"2026-02-20T22:08:22","slug":"news-and-update-early-may-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mvut.org\/blog\/2023\/05\/19\/news-and-update-early-may-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"News and Update – Early May 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"

Homelessness Prevention Program (HPP)<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our HPP <\/u>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 <\/u><\/a>have assisted literally hundreds of tenants in accessing the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funds. The ERAP <\/u>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<\/a> and New <\/u>York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal (NYS-DHCR)<\/a> Conferences to maintain their tenancies.<\/p>\n

Tenant Action Project (TAP)<\/strong><\/p>\n

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<\/a>” and we’d expect that we’ll get requests for organizing assistance from that. We’ll keep you posted. As part of our TAP <\/u>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 <\/u>regarding this.<\/p>\n

“Fair Housing Month\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

April was “Fair Housing Month” and MVUT <\/u>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 <\/u>office at (914) 699-1114 and we’ll direct them who to call.<\/p>\n

Mt. Vernon Comprehensive Plan<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mt. Vernon United Tenants (MVUT) has been on the Advisory Committee for Mt. <\/u>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:<\/p>\n

1) Open Space & Parks
\n2) Mobility and Transportation
\n3) Business & Economics
\n4) Housing
\n5) Downtown Revitalization<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Support Tenants’ Rights!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Support Affordable Housing! !<\/strong><\/p>\n

Support MVUT!!!*<\/strong><\/p>\n

*Please fill out the enclosed Funding Appeal<\/a> and return it to MVUT!<\/strong><\/p>\n

Download Early May 2023 News and Update:<\/p>\n

MVUT – Early May 2023 Update<\/a>
\nFunding Appeal Form and News Clip<\/a>
\nLoHud Article on Good Cause Eviction<\/a><\/p>\n