The New York City Department of Homeless Services (DHS) has provided $4,000 in grants to 150 migrant families as part of a new pilot program aimed at helping them move from city shelters into permanent housing, according to the Gothamist.
The initiative, called the Asylee Moveout Assistance program, targets asylum-seeking families and pregnant women living in 62 emergency shelters. It helps cover moving expenses, security deposits and other costs associated with securing permanent housing, the news agency reported.
DHS spokesperson Neha Sharma said the program, which launched in December, is modeled after the “enhanced one-shot deal,” another city grant program that offers up to $4,000 to shelter residents transitioning to permanent housing. However, many asylum-seekers are not eligible for that program due to federal and state restrictions, prompting the city to create this alternative.
The Asylee Moveout Assistance program is part of City Hall's efforts to reduce the number of migrants in city shelters, Gothamist said. The city’s migrant shelter population has hovered around 65,000, despite a slowdown in the arrival of new migrants. In response, the administration has introduced policies like limiting shelter stays for migrants and offering travel assistance for those leaving the city.
Funding for the program comes from existing DHS contracts with nonprofit shelter operators, who also run the grant program. The grants, paid directly to landlords and moving companies, include up to $1,000 in gift cards for household essentials. Families with work permits are prioritized, and recipients must document their expenses.
“The city continues to use every tool at its disposal to implement innovative solutions while creating fundamental resettlement supports for recently arrived asylum-seekers who may not be eligible for most federal and state-funded rehousing assistance,” Sharma said.
The program complements other city initiatives, such as a pilot program providing prepaid debit cards to migrant families for food and baby supplies, the article said.
