Coalition for the Homeless has facilitated its Disability Focus Group since 2022 for members with lived experience to discuss issues impacting homeless New Yorkers with disabilities. The Disability Focus Group delves deeply into various topics in its monthly meetings. This “How To Guide” project is a reflection of years of lively conversations during these meetings and the insightful experiences and wisdom of Disability Focus Group members. As this project is by group members for others within the community with similar experiences, this guide reflects the voices and experiences of Disability Focus Group members and is not a reflection of the views or recommendations of the Coalition except in those instances where content was expressly noted as prepared by Coalition staff.
Minbiyew “Grey” AshagreKanesha AtkinsonDenton HutchinsonJanet JacksonCarlos Ruiz
This section is in development and will include general information on services and supports for people with disabilities experiencing homelessness in NYC.
This section is in development and will include information to assist people with disabilities newly entering the NYC Department of Homeless Services shelter system
By: CFTH Staff
The Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has rules that residents must follow to be able to stay in shelter. The following outlines what these rules are and how you can protect your right to stay in a DHS shelter.
When you enter DHS shelter, you should be provided a notice called “Statement of Client Rights and DHS Code of Conduct” to review and sign. These rules are also summarized on a “Rights and Responsibilities” sign that should be posted in your shelter. Your responsibilities in DHS shelter include:
IMPORTANT: If there are any issues with your shelter stay, feel free to contact Coalition for the Homeless for assistance.
By: Carlos Ruiz
To request a reasonable accommodation (RA) when entering or living in a DHS shelter, inform staff at the shelter about your needs. You do not need to fill out any specific forms or ask in any specific way to submit a reasonable accommodation request. If your needs are obvious (that is, easily identifiable when first meeting you), DHS should immediately approve and provide relevant RAs. For example, if you use a wheelchair you should automatically be assigned to a wheelchair accessible shelter placement.
People with disabilities that are not obvious are encouraged to bring medical documentation to support their request for reasonable accommodations. After going through intake, people with disabilities will be transferred to a shelter facility that most suits their needs.
To make a reasonable accommodation request, you or shelter staff or an advocate can fill out the DHS-13 Reasonable Accommodation Request Form and give it to the staff at your site or an advocate who is helping you.
Once your request and any documentation has been submitted, you should get a response within 10 days. If the request is approved, DHS and the shelter should work to fulfill it as soon as possible. If it is denied, you can submit an appeal with the same or any new documentation. In some cases, your request may be denied but you are offered an alternative. You can request RAs at any time during your shelter staff. Again, any obvious disability-related needs should be automatically approved and accommodated.
Source: Applicants and Clients with Disabilities – DHS
Note: In case your shelter’s caseworker does not provide assistance, contact the Coalition for the Homeless who will work to ensure your rights are respected.
Within DHS, there are different types of shelters for different population types. There are some different processes and shelter configurations that apply to each population type.
Adult Family shelters are for families without minor children. They can apply for shelter at the Adult Family Intake Center (AFIC) and are subject to eligibility criteria. Adult Families are placed in private family units in a variety of configurations, with or without private bathrooms. Adult Family units typically do not have kitchens and meals are provided on site.
Family with Children shelters are for families with minor children. They can apply for shelter at Prevention Assistance and Temporary Housing (PATH) and are subject to eligibility criteria. Families with Children are placed in private family units in a variety of configurations, with or without private bathrooms. Families with Children sites can have cooking facilities or serve meals on site. These facilities may also include childcare services and other amenities for children on site.
Safe Havens and Stabilization Beds are for single adults and couples who have been chronically street homeless and typically have been referred by street outreach. These facilities are low-threshold to encourage chronically street homeless individuals to seek temporary (and eventually permanent) housing.
Single Adult shelters are for individual adults (over 21) applying for shelter on their own. Single Adult shelters are organized into men’s and women’s shelters, though people can seek shelter at whichever system best aligns with their gender identity. Men’s intake is located at 30th Street intake and assessment, and women’s intake is located at Franklin women’s intake and HELP women’s intake center. Single adult shelters can be congregate or reduced density settings, and placements depend on clients’ specific needs. All single adult shelters provide meals.
There are other types of shelters operated by agencies other than DHS. The above types only apply to the DHS shelter system.
By: Janet Jackson
People living in DHS shelters are assigned to a case manager at their shelter.
The role of the shelter case manager is primarily to work with individuals and families in shelters to develop an Independent Living Plan (ILP), ensure needs are met in the shelter placement, and support the transition into permanent housing.
A shelter case manager’s primary responsibilities include:
Case managers are expected to maintain accurate and up to date written documentation of client meetings and progress on ILP goals.
Source: https://www.nyc.gov/assets/dhs/downloads/pdf/case-management-guidelines-families.pdf
By: Denton Hutchinson
ABLE stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience and is a savings account for people with disabilities to save money without impacting eligibility for public benefits. Learn more (including how to apply) at https://www.mynyable.org/.
FLUSHING BANKChecking Account only.No required monthly balance to avoid fees. Minimum $25 deposit to open. www.flushingbank.com
TD BANKSavings Account. Minimum daily balance to avoid monthly maintenance fee. Seniors exempt.www.td.com
CITIZENS BANKSavings Account.Open with any amount.Make at least one monthly deposit of any amount and the $4.99 monthly fee will be waived.www.citizensbank.com
APPLE BANKSavings Account.No Monthly Fees.www.applebank.com
RIDGEWOOD SAVINGS BANKSavings Account.No monthly fees and no minimum opening amount.Green Checking Account.No monthly service fee and $25 opening amount.www.ridgewoodbank.com
DIME COMMUNITY BANKBasic Checking AccountZero minimum opening amount, $5 monthly feewww.dime.com
MCUNo fees and no monthly minimums.www.nymcu.org
CENTRAL BROOKLYN CUwww.brooklyn.coop
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT CREDIT UNIONSwww.creditunions.com
To accomplish this:
When applying for benefits the following documents and information must be provided
Applying for Public AssistanceHomeless clients entering shelters must apply for and maintain Public Assistance. Cooperate with ongoing eligibility checks and follow up as directed by shelter staff.
Apply or recertify for Cash AssistanceUse the ACCESS HRA website or mobile app anytime, anywhere (portal.311.nyc.gov).
Prepare supporting documentsYou’ll need to upload proof of eligibility (e.g., ID, income, residence) when applying or recertifying
Manage benefits electronicallyYou can apply, recertify, and review your current benefits—all from the ACCESS HRA portal or application.
For the quickest, most convenient experience with NYC Cash Assistance, use the ACCESS HRA portal, and have your documentation ready.
CityFHEPSCityFHEPS is a housing subsidy available to some individuals and families staying in shelters or at risk of entering shelter. The City created CityFHEPS in October 2018 to streamline several existing subsidies. Click here for more information.
Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher The Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program was created by the Federal Housing and Community Development Act of 1974 to assist low income families in finding a place to live at affordable rents, in the community. Learn more about Section 8 here.
Bed Passes allow you an exemption from usual curfew and/or dorm closure rules at your shelter. Depending on your need, they may allow you to maintain your bed placement if you arrive after curfew or they may allow you to remain in a shelter sleeping area to rest when it would otherwise be closed. Bed pass requests may be subject to the following:
No resident may stay outside the shelter without pre-approval/permission from shelter staff.
Late or Overnight pass requestMay be issued without prior verification for special circumstances. Administrative approval is required. Upon returning to the shelter, client surrenders pass and signs bed roster for time missed. Staff notes the client’s return and it is noted in the client’s record.
A client experiencing an emergency situation, that will prevent a timely return, should notify the shelter by telephone before curfew to request an emergency pass from the night supervisor.
A client who does not return by the date and time specified on the pass and does not notify the shelter will be subject to the terms of DHS’ Curfew Violation Procedure (00-408).
Late and Overnight Passes are given to facilitate independent living plan to meet goals, such as employment or family reunification.
When employment or a program obligates a client to return to the shelter after curfew or next day, it is still subject to the procedure above.
One Night Late Passes (form 407A)The client is expected to request a pass at least 24hrs in advance of the date they plan to return after curfew. All passes will be reviewed by the caseworker. The pass will be approved or disapproved prior to the client leaving the shelter.
Multi-Use Late Passes (form 407 B)When employment or a program obligates a client to return to an assigned shelter after curfew on more than one night, a Multi-Use Pass or Passes are issued.
Overnight Passes (form 407 C)There are no overnight stays outside the shelter without permission. Overnight Passes are limited in duration. They are not issued for more than 2 consecutive nights.
Shelters, however, must fill the bed of an overnight pass recipient with a new resident, if such resident arrives during the duration of the pass and there are no other beds available.
Reasonable AccommodationsFor bed passes that allow a client to remain in their dorm during typical closed hours, a Reasonable Accommodation is typically required. You may request this at any time and will most likely need to submit supporting documentation demonstrating your need for the accommodation.
By: Minbiyew “Grey” Ashagre
The beginning:
After 3 months/once settled in your shelter
Voucher/Apartment hunting
New York City offers so much for those experiencing homelessness. It is important to stay proactive. Giving yourself purpose daily is important, whether it is school, trainings, work, or activities, the key is to stay busy.
Safety ReportingIn DHS shelters, reporting a safety issue typically involves an incident being reported to the appropriate authorities, documentation of that incident in involved clients’ file, and potentially reporting to the Department of Social Services (DSS). Shelter operators have reporting protocols for serious incidents, including reporting to the Office Of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA).The shelter staff must report all incidents to their supervisors.
Shelter residents can report safety issues to the management at their shelter, the Office of the Ombudsmen, OTDA, or any advocate or legal service. You should not be retaliated against for reporting safety concerns in your shelter.
All DHS shelters must report incidents to the appropriate supervisor or Program Director. There are different levels of “priority” in DHS incident reporting, and all priority types must be reported.
Priority and Critical IncidentsThese incidents require a Critical Incident Report and must be reported within four(4) hours of occurrence (or by 12noon the next business day for overnight or weekend incidents). Any incident that poses a significant threat to the safety and well being of residents or staff requires a Critical Incident Report.
Serious Incident ReportingSerious incidents impacting the safety and well being of residents or staff require immediate notification to DSS and OTDA. They must be reported within one business to the Division of Shelter Oversight and Compliance. day via email and a copy of the incident report must be submitted to OTDA within (3) three business days. Serious Incidents are listed in DHS policy and include incidents that impact the safety and well being of residents and staff, such as deaths, injury, assaults, and arrests.
Mandated ReportingDHS shelter staff who are mandated reporters must report suspected incidents to the Victim’s Protection and Confidential Reporting within 24 hours.
Shelter ConditionsAny conditions issue that impacts the safety or well being of shelter residents, related to the shelter building, amenities, or services, can be reported. These conditions can be reported to the Legal Aid Society Homeless Rights Project hotline, Coalition for the Homeless, the Office of the Ombudsmen, and/or 311. Shelter conditions are regularly inspected and monitored by Coalition for the Homeless, the court-appointed independent monitor of the DHS shelter system.
Contact InformationLegal Aid Society’s Homeless Rights Project hotline: 800-649-9125
Coalition for the Homeless’ Crisis Intervention Hotline: 1-888-358-2384.
Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance (OTDA): 1-518-486-4040 or otda.sm.css.bss@otda.ny.gov
Source: coalitionforthehomeless.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/DHS-Procedure-08-003-Criteria-for-Reporting-Incidents-2007.pdf
This section is in development and will include information and resources to assist people with disabilities living in NYC Department of Homeless Services shelters and working to obtain permanent housing to exit shelter.
This section is in development and will include information and resources for people with disabilities in NYC after they have obtained housing and moved out of the shelter system.
