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It's been an eventful seven or eight months since I last posted -- I got teed-off at having a post pulled due to alleged "anti-Semitism" simply for mentioning all the Jewish employers on Craig's List (seriously, how come we can talk about other groups here but not them??)...anyway, just explaining why I've been away.
But I'm back now 'cause I was wondering whether anyone might know about SOTA: Special One-Time Assistance...as anyone who knows the shelter system here knows, the staff ain't usually helpful, whether due to incompetence or malice or both, so I'm not getting any info from them...the few mentions online I've found are from Gothamist, WNYC, and the New York Post about something new that sounds like SOTA but which never mentions the name "SOTA" so I'm unsure what's what, exactly....
I've also found something from a licensed real estate broker's site but the info there is a straight-up copy-n-paste of a short official notice I already have...so anyway, any (new -- though you just post what you know and we'll compare notes to see if it's "new" to me!) info would be much appreciated; thanks.
(And I'm gainfully employed now and have been for the past six months since I was here last; was getting ready to move out with another few months of savings -- a lower middle-class job that nets $671 a week so it's taking time to save even with anywhere between 69% and 74% of my net income squirreled away...which is why SOTA sounds grand if I could get it, which I've been told I could but then, like, nothing, so I'm trying to be pro-active here instead of waiting around on the Poverty Industrial Complex workers to finally get off their duffs and provide some more basic info!!)
No, it's not the one-shot deal, actually (though thanks for your thoughts; honestly)...SOTA is something new that came came online (that is, came on the line -- was activated) on August 31...and yet here we are going into December, practically, and still no info.
Here's the same official stuff I myself have on it:
Nice basic intro but no details as to how to apply (seems like us homeless gotta wait on our "high-priest intermediaries" in the Poverty Industrial Complex; unlike food stamps, we don't just walk in somewhere and apply on our own [?])...the stuff on Gothamist, WNYC, etc., sounds just like this except they all keep mentioning "families" whereas I was told by my "Housing Specialist" (LOL: talk about inflated titles) that I as a single adult qualified and actually got this....
I have checked my entire database and do not have information on this program. You can call the HRA hotline in the link I provided above and ask them about it.
They don't know either, unfortunately. Not HRA, not DHS, certainly not 311 and no mention anywhere on NYC.gov....
It's crazy but it's like no one knows! Like, I know this is a new program but come on...!
They'll pay a whole year upfront to the landlord -- anywhere in the USA!! For a person like me (disease and drug-free, no mental issues, etc.), this would be the near equivalent of the ol' G.I. Bill, you know? A one-shot super-boost into the upper middle-class (if I can't find any studio apartment locally [by which I mean even in Suffolk!] I'd just take SOTA, along with my savings, and go into the middle of Wyoming or something and learn computer programming on my own [apparently the entirely free FreeCodeCamp.org has a great track record] for the next six to eight months and then rejoin the "haves" in society that way!)....
Oh, BTW, thanks again for your input! But how do you have a "database" -- are you like a Coalition for the Homeless volunteer or something?? Just curious.
As I look further into this, the program states: This is an option for LINC (with the exception of LINC VI), CITYFEPS, and SEPS program clients in shelter or moving to new apartments.
So yes HRA/DHS will have information on this. It looks like you have to receive these services already for your rent to be subsidized for 1 year. If you are a single adult, you can look into SEPS: The SEPS Rent Supplement Program All other programs are for families. Not much help for single homeless adults.
And lets just say I work for a "city agency" packed with information (that many deem useless)!
Thanks very much for the info -- but I don't qualify for LINC netting $671 a week and I'm not sure about those other two programs you mentioned though I wouldn't be surprised if I'm too "rich" for them as well!
When I contacted HRA and DHS both, the folks answering the phone didn't know anything (of course)...that's why I'm appealing to this forum since we've got quite a few resident know-it-alls! ;-)
I guess I'll just go back to my original plan of saving on my own and moving out in another few months....
They are discontinuing the SOTA program, if they haven't already effective Jan 1st. That's probably why you can't find anything online about it. I've been looking as well. I actually heard about it from my case worker.
It's been an eventful seven or eight months since I last posted -- I got teed-off at having a post pulled due to alleged "anti-Semitism" simply for mentioning all the Jewish employers on Craig's List (seriously, how come we can talk about other groups here but not them??)...anyway, just explaining why I've been away.
But I'm back now 'cause I was wondering whether anyone might know about SOTA: Special One-Time Assistance...as anyone who knows the shelter system here knows, the staff ain't usually helpful, whether due to incompetence or malice or both, so I'm not getting any info from them...the few mentions online I've found are from Gothamist, WNYC, and the New York Post about something new that sounds like SOTA but which never mentions the name "SOTA" so I'm unsure what's what, exactly....
I've also found something from a licensed real estate broker's site but the info there is a straight-up copy-n-paste of a short official notice I already have...so anyway, any (new -- though you just post what you know and we'll compare notes to see if it's "new" to me!) info would be much appreciated; thanks.
(And I'm gainfully employed now and have been for the past six months since I was here last; was getting ready to move out with another few months of savings -- a lower middle-class job that nets $671 a week so it's taking time to save even with anywhere between 69% and 74% of my net income squirreled away...which is why SOTA sounds grand if I could get it, which I've been told I could but then, like, nothing, so I'm trying to be pro-active here instead of waiting around on the Poverty Industrial Complex workers to finally get off their duffs and provide some more basic info!!)
Did you apply for NYCHA yet?
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