MEDIA ADVISORY

CONTACT: NICOLE CUETO

(917) 434-5940

CITY OFFICIALS VISIT SCHOOL TO CONNECT PARENTS TO RESOURCES TO PREVENT FAMILY HOMELESSNESS

NYC Department of Social Services, NYC Department of Education double down on homeless prevention as summer approaches by connecting families to Homebase services at local public schools across the city

NEW YORK— As part of the City’s plan to increase homelessness prevention, the NYC Department of Social Services (DSS), in conjunction with the NYC Department of Education and Public Engagement Unit, will sponsor its second annual Day of Action. Because the end of the school year generally coincides with an increase in family applications for shelter, the City is doubling down on resources for homelessness prevention and anti-eviction legal services to increase the number of families who can remain in their homes, ensuring shelters are a last resort. City and state officials will join DSS staff members and homelessness service providers at public schools to provide resources to parents and caregivers as they drop their kids off at school.

WHAT: Day of Action – Homebase Prevention Programming

WHEN: Tuesday, June 21, 2016 at 7:30 AM

WHERE: PS 532 – New Bridges Elementary School – 1025 Eastern Parkway, Brooklyn, New York

WHO:

• NYC Deputy Mayor Herminia Palacio

• NYC Department of Social Services Commissioner Steven Banks

• NYC Department of Education Chief Executive Officer, Office of Safety and Youth Development, Lois Herrera

• NYC Council Member Stephen Levin

• CAMBA President & CEO, Joanne Oplustil

*Media members who plan to attend, please contact Nicole Cueto (NCueto@dhs.nyc.gov/ 917-434-5940) for additional information.

New York City’s Homebase program is the most comprehensive and innovative homelessness prevention services network in the country, providing access to an array of services and financial assistance to help households on the brink of homelessness remain in their communities and out of shelter. The DSS Days of Action are part of a larger coordinated prevention campaign, including nearly $1.2 million targeted outdoor, print, digital, and social media advertising. Trained specialists are engaging one-on-one with parents and family caregivers to inform them of the homelessness prevention services available to them in their community through the City’s Homebase program. The City will also make direct phone calls to 13,000 families throughout the summer to raise awareness about Homebase services.

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