Shelter System Alternatives for Houseless folks in NYC

July 31, 2020 9:55 AM

I am trying to find long term housing for a number of people displaced by a fire in their long-term squat building in NYC. There is a single parent & child and an older woman who fleed a domestic violence situation to stay with them that I am particularly concerned about, but there's a number of folks in their 20s & 30s too- young couples and single people. If anyone knows of any non-shelter organizations i could research or start contacting i would be utterly grateful.
posted by wowenthusiast to Society & Culture (6 answers total)

For survivors of domestic violence, the MeFi Wiki ThereIsHelp page lists resources in the Domestic Violence and Abuse section. In addition, the MeFi Wiki Homeless Survival Guide lists a variety of resources, including a link to help find your local Red Cross chapter (which may be able to offer financial resources for temporary housing), and the United Way, which offers a confidential referral service to help find local resources by dialing 211 or visiting https://www.211.org/.
posted by katra at 10:37 AM on July 31, 2020 [2 favorites]

Red Cross generally helps people displaced by fire.

I would also ask, if it is safe to share, which borough? Different boroughs (and even different parts of different boroughs) have different access.

Additionally, 311 may have resources.
posted by bilabial at 10:45 AM on July 31, 2020 [1 favorite]

depending where they are, a local mutual aid group might be able to help. feel free to DM me general location info and i'll see if i know a mutual aid group.
posted by squiddish at 3:55 PM on July 31, 2020 [1 favorite]

Ganas in SI?
posted by 8603 at 4:47 PM on July 31, 2020 [1 favorite]

Also, not a short-term solution, but while they're in housing search mode, apply for all the housing lotteries and the Mitchell-Lamas (one link) (another link). There are two different kinds of Mitchell-Lamas--city-supervised (HPD) and state-supervised (DHCR).
posted by 8603 at 7:07 AM on August 4, 2020

Sorry, this is a better link for HPD Mitchell-Lamas.
posted by 8603 at 7:12 AM on August 4, 2020