Housing Counseling Agencies
Whether you are interested in buying or renting, housing counseling agencies are an important source of housing information, advice, counseling, education, and financing. In this section we will tell you how to locate the one nearest you.
HUD Housing Couseling Agencies
National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling
Adoption of the National Industry Standards for Homeownership Education and Counseling shows that an organization is dedicated to providing a high level of quality service delivery and professionalism that current and future homeowners can recognize and expect. High standards encourage excellence and help guide professional conduct and decision-making in the field. You can find an organization near you that has adopted these Standards at www.homeownershipstandards.org.
Working with an organization that has adopted the National Industry Standards gives existing and future homeowners the confidence that counselors/educators will:
The NeighborWorks® Network
NeighborWorks® America supports over 235 independent, community-based nonprofit organizations across the country known as the NeighborWorks® Network. These nonprofits provide valuable housing-related services in more than 4,500 communities in America. They are staffed by counselors who serve as advocates to families who already own their homes or who are interested in pursuing homeownership. Services include prepurchase counseling, financial fitness classes, default and foreclosure prevention counseling, affordable financing and a host of other products and services. To locate the NeighborWorks® Network member nearest you, go to www.nw.org and use the Find a NeighborWorks® Organization link located on the right hand side of the home page. You can search by your zip code or search the state of New York.
NeighborWorks® Center for Foreclosure Solutions
The NeighborWorks® Center for Foreclosure Solutions (CFS) offers free counseling nationwide through its hotline at 888-995-HOPE (4673). If you are delinquent and facing foreclosure, its trained counselors may be able to help you develop a budget and spending plan that can get you back on track. At http://nw.org/network/foreclosure/default.asp, you can find links to locate a foreclosure counselor, learn about mortgage modification scams, and explain mortgage refinance and modification options. Also available are links to videos and other resources on what to do when facing foreclosure, how to prevent foreclosure, and other topics.
Finding Affordable Rental Units in New York
New York City Affordable Housing Resource Center
www.nyc.gov/html/housinginfo/html/home/home.shtml
At the New York City Affordable Housing Resource Center you will find information on all aspects of City housing, including renting an apartment, buying a home, and apartment maintenance issues. You can also find all of the City's affordable housing lottery listings.
New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) www.nyc.gov/hpd
HPD works with its governmental, community, non-profit and for-profit partners to strengthen neighborhoods, increase the availability of well-maintained, affordable housing, and enable more New Yorkers to become homeowners. Contact HPD to learn more about long-term affordable housing options.
Alert: Resources for the Homeless
HUD: If you are homeless (or at risk of becoming homeless) you may find information on shelters and other resources at http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ny&topic=homeless
NYC.gov: http://www.nyc.gov/html/dhs/html/home/home.shtml. New York City provides temporary emergency shelter to every man, woman, and child who is eligible for services, every night. Contact the website above or call 3-1-1 to find shelters or homelessness prevention services near you.
New York City Housing Portal
https://mtprawvwhpdhl01.nyc.gov/NycHousingRecovery/Housing.html#home
The City of New York is committed to ensuring that every New Yorker affected by Hurricane Sandy has a safe place to live. If you are a NYC resident displaced by Hurricane Sandy, you can learn about housing options and register with the City of New York for help in finding interim or long-term housing at the New York City Housing Portal website, listed above.
If you have any trouble creating an account on this site, please call 3-1-1 to be connected to a person who can register you over the phone. The majority of the units New York City has posted on this website are income-restricted units (i.e. primarily for low- and moderate- income households)..
New York State Homes and Community Renewal
You can find assistance if you live in subsidized housing, including answers to frequently asked questions at the NYSHCR website. For help or if you have a question regarding a check you received in the mail for New York State Hurricane Sandy housing aid please call 1-855-NYS-SANDY (855-6977263).
Please visit the Lower Manhattan Borough Rent Information Office located on the 5th floor of 25 Beaver Street for a full listing of Borough Rent Offices or, on the Web at www.nyshcr.org/AboutUs/Contact.htm#ora
NY Housing Search.gov
Telephone: 877-428-8844
TTD/TTY: 7-1-1
Email: info@socialserve.com
Website: www.nyhousingsearch.gov
Funded by New York State Homes and Community Renewal, www.NYHousingSearch.gov is a free service to list and find affordable, accessible homes and apartments across NY. At the website click on the link — “Are you looking for housing because of Hurricane Sandy?†— to view housing options throughout the state.
Public Housing Authorities (PHAs) and Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers www.hud.gov/offices/pih/pha/contacts/states/ny.cfm
At this website you can find a list of all the public housing authorities in New York. Search for one that is in or near the area you wish to live in. These agencies typically administer both public housing and the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher program.
Websites Listing Apartment Rentals
NY1Residential.com is a searchable website for residential housing including rentals in NYC. The site is maintained by the Real Estate Board of New York (REBNY) and lists consumer tips for how to buy and rent in New York City. Search for rentals in your area at www.ny1residential.com Rentals.com is a national database of rental properties. Search for rentals in your area at www.rentals.com/New-York
Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA)
Federal Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA) is available to residents who were living or working in New York at the time of the disaster, and who are unemployed as a direct result of the damages caused by the storm.
Most impacted workers may already qualify for regular Unemployment Insurance. The federal DUA is a special program that covers many people who otherwise may not be eligible for regular Unemployment Insurance. If you lost income or your job and live or work in the Bronx, Kings, New York, Richmond, Queens, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland, Orange, Putnam, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties, you may qualify for DUA. Those eligible can receive between $152 and $405 per week for up to 27 weeks while they remain unemployed as a result of the disaster. People who are small business owners or self-employed are eligible for this program.
Contact Information:
Residents who have sustained losses can begin applying for assistance by registering online at www.disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362. To apply: call the Department of Labor’s Telephone Claims Center (TCC) at 888-209-8124
or 1-877-358-5306 (if you live out of state), or apply online at https://applications.labor. ny.gov/IndividualReg/?showuib=true&LOCALE=en_US, or in person at a local DOL One-Stop Career Center or a FEMA Disaster Recovery Center.
Low-Cost and No-Cost Legal Assistance
Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association
Telephone: 1-800-699-5636
Website: www.americanbar.org/disaster
Disaster Legal Services provided for free by the Young Lawyers Division of the American Bar Association are now available for survivors in New York facing legal issues due to Hurricane Sandy. Residents who cannot afford to pay an attorney can call the hotline to request free legal assistance.
The type of legal assistance available includes:
Through an intake process, callers will be matched with a volunteer attorney who can provide assistance or general legal information regarding their issue. Callers should say that they are seeking legal assistance related to Hurricane Sandy. The hotline will be staffed during normal business hours, but messages can be left at any time.
The helpline is part of a long-standing partnership between FEMA and the ABA.
LawHelp/NY (www.LawHelp.org/NY) is an on-line tool designed to help low-income New Yorkers solve their legal problems. At the website, you can access LiveHelp, a real-time, online chat service, in English and Spanish, that helps guide consumers to relevant legal information and free legal services. www.AyudaLegalNY.org, is the Spanish version of www.LawHelp.org/NY LawHelp/NY is the only comprehensive source of legal referral information in the state and includes:
Additionally, the website has a link to a Hurricane Sandy blog, “My New York Legal Help,†which provides legal news and information for low-income New Yorkers.
Legal Services NYC
www.legalservicesnyc.org/index.php
Visit the website above and click the link for “Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort,†to find an office and access a comprehensive Disaster Relief Legal Assistance Manual with information about Disaster Unemployment Insurance, FEMA, emergency food stamps, ADAP and Medicaid, and more. Legal Services NYC has also co-sponsored a training to prepare more than 250 volunteer lawyers to participate in disaster assistance clinics and other opportunities to provide legal counseling to affected communities.
If you are in need of assistance, please call the Citywide Sandy Recovery Hotline: 347-592-2411 between 10am and 3pm on weekdays.
New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG)
Telephone: 212-584-3365
Email: StormHelp@nylag.org
Website: http://nylag.org/units/storm-response-unit
NYLAG’s Mobile Legal Help Center is traveling to hard-hit neighborhoods across New York City, in particular Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island and Long Island. In these boroughs, the devastation has been most profound, the legal aid infrastructure has been compromised by storm damage, and those in need have been isolated and unable to travel. For immediate assistance, contact NYLAG using the contact information above.
New York State Bar Association (NYSBA)
Telephone: 800-699-5636
Website: www.nysba.org
The NYSBA provides free legal advice to New Yorkers with legal problems related to Hurricane Sandy from volunteer lawyers. Volunteer lawyers will answer storm-related questions about insurance, real estate issues (landlord-tenant and other property disputes) and general legal matters, such as replacing missing wills and other documents. In addition, individuals whose applications for emergency assistance are rejected by FEMA will be able to speak with an attorney about how to appeal the decision.
NYC Pro Bono Center
Telephone: 800-699-5636
Website: www.probono.net/ny/nyc/hurricane_sandy
The New York legal aid and pro bono community is providing direct services to those most affected, including filing for FEMA and Disaster Unemployment Insurance benefits, answering immigration status questions, documenting and filing insurance claims, and addressing many other legal needs of individuals and small businesses. Pro Bono Net is collaborating with the American Bar Association, Legal Services Corporation, and the National Legal Aid & Defender Association on the National Disaster Legal Aid website (http://www.disasterlegalaid.org), where Hurricane Sandy resources and information are being posted regularly. In NY, please call 800-699-5636.
Resources for Buying and Selling
To find real estate agents in New York, visit www.realtor.com.
In New York City, www.NY1residential.com is sponsored by the Real Estate Board of New York and Time Warner Cable. The website includes real estate listings and consumer tips for buying, selling and renting.
If you are interested in “for sale by owner†(FSBO) listings, look for print ads in the entrance of your local shopping center or search online. A few options for New York that came up on a recent online search are listed below, but there are others as well.
www.homesbyowner.com/new_york/
Finding a Contractor/Home Repair
Community Development Corporation of Long Island, (CDCLI)
Telephone: 631-471-1215
Email: info@cdcli.org
Website: www.cdcli.org
CDCLI offers emergency home repair loans to residents of Nassau and Suffolk counties.You can receive more information by visiting the website above or via telephone or email.
Homeadvisor.com
Home Advisor.com (formerly known as ServiceMagic.com) can help you find contractors to fit your needs. If you answer some simple questions about your building needs, at the Home Advisor website you can find a list of prescreened contractors.
Neighborhood Housing Services of New York City, Inc. (NHSNYC)
Provides direct emergency relief loans for the repair or reconstruction of homes damaged by Hurricane Sandy. Visit the website above for additional information and a list of borough specific telephone numbers.
NYC Rapid Repairs Program
www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/rapid_repairs.html
This program will send teams of contractors and City inspectors into neighborhoods impacted by Hurricane Sandy to make necessary repairs to damaged homes.
Altert: Creating a Healthy Home: A Field Guide for Clean-Up of Flooded Homes
This is a practical guide developed by Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., the National Center for Healthy Housing, NeighborWorks® America, and Neighborhood Housing Services of New Orleans. The methods were tested on four flooded homes in New Orleans. You can download the guide for free at www.practitionerresources.org/cache/ documents/54278.pdf.
Homeowners are able to sign up for NYC Rapid Repairs by going to www.NYC.gov, calling 3-1-1, or visiting one of New York City’s Restoration Centers. Interested homeowners will need a FEMA ID number, which they can get by registering at www.DisasterAssistance.gov, calling 1-800-621-3362, or visting one of NYC’s Restoration Centers (www.nyc.gov/html/misc/html/2012/dasc.html). The Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) Community Development Fund
Telephone: 718-961-0888
Email: info@aafecdf.org
Website: www.aafecdf.org
The Asian Americans for Equality (AAFE) Community Development Fund offers an emergency home repair loan program ($5000 to $20,000) for homeowners in New York City. Eligible items to be repaired or replaced include damaged roofs, windows and doors, and boilers.
The Center for New York City Neighborhoods (CNYCN)/Neighborhood Recovery Fund (NRF)
Telephone: 646-786-0888
Fax: 646-349-1578
E-mail: NRF@cnycn.org
Website: www.cnycn.org/programs/nrf
Through its affiliate, Sustainable Neighborhoods, LLC., CNYCN is administering the Neighborhood Recovery Fund (NRF). NRF, an emergency fund sponsored by Goldman Sachs Gives, and created to provide financial assistance to homeowners affected by Hurricane Sandy. Funds from NRF will be used to ensure that impacted New York City homeowners can access and/or maintain housing.
Eligible homeowners may receive up to $5,000 in either a grant or interest-free loan to cover certain expenses that are incurred due to Hurricane Sandy and not covered by FEMA. See the website for eligibility requirements, application instructions, and other program details.
The NYC Department of Buildings
www.nyc.gov/html/dob/html/news/storm_update.shtml
The Department of Buildings will waive all application and permit fees for any work done on buildings damaged by the storm. Check the website for a list of helpful documents related to repairs and power restoration.
Consumer Tips for Hiring a Contractor
From the website of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman
(www.ag.ny.gov/recovering-sandy):
While it is understandable that you may be tempted to hire a contractor quickly, you should observe a few basic precautions to protect yourself from a potentially costly mistake. Attorney General Schneiderman offers the following tips to help you in choosing a contractor:
Never give a contractor a cash deposit before a contract is signed. Always do your homework BEFORE you hire a contractor:
– Ask for and follow up with references
– Ask the contractor for proof of insurance
– Check the better business bureau website, www.bbb.org, for complaints against the contractor
– Search online for any evidence that the contractor is disreputable
Home improvement contractors must be licensed in New York City, Suffolk, Nassau, Westchester, Putnam, and Rockland counties. Before you hire a home improvement contractor, use these links to check whether the contractor is licensed or registered in your county.
Nassau County: www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/oca/Licensing/checklist.html
New York City: www.nyc.gov/html/dca/html/licenses/license_check.shtml
Putnam County: www.putnamcountyny.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/
Contractor-Listing-September-2012.pdf
Rockland County: www.rocklandgov.com/departments/consumer-protection-weights-andmeasures…
Suffolk County: http://apps.suffolkcountyny.gov/Consumer%20Affairs/ContractorSearch/ default.aspx
Westchester County: http://consumer.westchestergov.com/find-a-licensed-contractor
Faith-Based Organizations and Social Service Agencies
2-1-1 Search
A search engine that finds 2-1-1 call centers or other information and referral related sites in the United States. In New York, you can find a comprehensive guide listing disaster response and social service providers for Long Island (www.211longisland.org) and the Hudson Valley counties of Dutchess, Ulster, Sullivan, Rockland, Orange, Westchester and Putnam (www.hudson211.org). In New York City, call 3-1-1 for social service and other important information.
Catholic Charities
Check with Catholic Charities for mental health services, information and referral, help with rent or mortgage payments, and assistance with a range of other post-disaster issues. See the website to find the Catholic Charities nearest to you.
Habitat for Humanity
Habitat for Humanity is responding to Hurricane Sandy by providing community clean up, emergency home repairs, rehab services and on-going support through Habitat ReStores which provides discounted construction materials and furniture. Visit the website for more information.
Lutheran Social Services of New York
475 Riverside Drive, Suite 1244
New York, NY 10115
Telephone: 212-870-1100
Website: www.lssny.org/site/sandy-get-help
Lutheran Social Services of New York has launched Lutheran Disaster Response of New York, an alliance of Lutheran agencies responding to disaster. For more information see the website above.
Red Cross
www.redcross.org/find-your-local-chapter
The Red Cross responds to approximately 70,000 disasters in the United States every year, ranging from home fires that affect a single family to hurricanes that affect tens of thousands. provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire communities get back on their feet. Find your local Red Cross chapter by visiting the website.
Salvation Army
The Salvation Army New York Divisional Headquarters
120 West 14th Street
New York, NY 10011-7301
Telephone: 212-337-7200
Fax: 212-337-7299
Website: www.use.salvationarmy.org/gnyd
New York has quite a number of Salvation Army locations. The best way to find the one closest to you is to look online at the website above, or call the office of the Greater New York Divison Headquarters. The area command office, listed above, either offers or coordinates the Salvation Army’s social services in their area.
United Way/United Way of New York
On the United Way of New York website listed above, you can click on a link to find the closest United Way office. You can also call 2-1-1 for information on the Hudson Valley and/or Long Island.
Community Action Agencies (CAA)
www.nyscommunityaction.org/findagencies.cfm
Community Action Agencies provide a range of social services to help low-income individuals, families, homeless individuals and families, migrants, and the elderly poor. You have to meet their income guidelines in order to qualify for assistance. In New York, the New York State Community Action Association is a good place to search for the CAA nearest you. While they vary slightly around the state, most Community Action Agencies offer: