NYC offers migrants $4K to leave city shelters: How it works
NEW YORK - The New York City Department of Homeless Services has offered 150 migrant families up to $4,000 to leave city shelters.
The grants are expected to help migrant households make a smoother transition from shelter to permanent housing.
Jump to: How it works | How much does it cost? | How to qualify
Similar to the Enhanced One-Shot Deals (EOSD) program, the Asylee Moveout Assistance (AMA) program is a pilot intended to help bridge a pathway to housing for asylum seekers.
The pilot is modeled after the EOSD program which also includes $4,000 to provide for upfront rehousing costs.
According to DHS, the pilot uses existing city dollars and the authorized spending for rehousing assistance and is "is carved out from discretionary funding and flexibilities."
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"… 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," a statement from the Department of Homeless Services said.
According to DHS, they've been working with not-for-profit providers to pilot an effort to reduce barriers to obtaining housing by helping asylum-seeking families.
How much do migrants cost NYC?
The per diem rate for a single migrant household is $5 more than previously cited in 2023.
source: nyc.gov
It currently costs around $388 per day for NYC to house and care for a single migrant household, according to Social Services.
Those costs add up rather quickly when considering that more than 64,000 asylum seekers remain in the city's care as of October 2024.
Last year, as the city neared the arrival of 100,000 asylum seekers (now more than 180,000), NYC Mayor Eric Adams warned of the costs if state and federal governments did not take swift action.
Around $156 million has been allocated by the federal government for the ongoing migrant crisis, but the city says it's only received roughly a third of these funds ($49 million).
The city's budget director Jacques Jiha, cited the overly burdensome application requirements needed to receive the aid.
source: nyc.gov
How the Asylee Moveout Assistance (AMA) program works
AMA is only available to asylum-seeking families with children, families with adult children, and pregnant women who are residing in select DHS emergency shelter sites and have identified permanent housing.
Once approved, the not-for-profit provider makes the payments to authorized/verified recipients on behalf of the household.
For example, moving expenses would be paid directly to the moving company. Rental payments and security deposits would be paid to either landlords or primary tenants.
Households would be provided gift cards to purchase necessary household items (up to $1,000).
The one-time grant of $4,000 could be used for:
- First/last month’s rent
- Security deposits
- Moving expenses
- Household supplies
If a household were to return to shelter, they would not be eligible for this form of assistance again, DHS says. According to the department, no cash payments/transactions are permitted.
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Here's how much it costs NYC to care for a single migrant
The per diem rate for a single migrant household is more than previously expected. These costs add up quickly when considering the nearly 64,000 asylum seekers in the city's care.
Documents needed to qualify
To be eligible for and receive this grant documentation is required.
Here are some examples of required documentation:
- Quote or receipt from a moving company
- Lease or rental agreement documenting rental amount
- Move Statement certifying that the move was complete
- Gift card purchase for household supplies receipt showing the amount purchased/Copies of paid checks
According to DHS, over the past seven months, the pilot has grown from 4 providers to 12 providers offering the option of AMA housing assistance across 62 emergency sites providing shelter services for asylum seekers.
In 2023, Mayor Adams said the city would end up spending more on migrants than it does on the Fire, Parks, and Sanitation Departments combined.
He also introduced immediate response cards citing that the prepaid cards would end up saving the city money.
For more information, visit the Department of Homeless Services.