H.S.I. describes itself in the following fairly benign ways in a recent audited financial statement found on the NYC Charities Registry:

From: HOUSING AND SERVICES, INC.... COMBINED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS... YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2011 AND 2010
'The organization operates and develops permanent supportive and affordable housing."

"Property management services: H.S.I. provides property management and administrative services to the low income permanent supportive housing projects known as Cecil Hotel, Kenmore Hall and Narragansett Hotel. The projects are controlled by H.S.I. through a commonality of trustees and officers."

FORM 990, PART III, LINE 1:
"The organization works toward ending chronic homelessness, preventing homelessness for persons threatened with displacement and improving housing conditions for the marginalized through the operation and development of permanent supportive and affordable housing. The organization helps its clients achieve their fullest potential for housing self-sufficiency by realistically assessing their individual needs and building respectful and caring supportive communities to overcome barriers to their success."

KENMORE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT FUND CORPORATION: "Operation of low income supportive housing project.":

The phrase supportive housing is used three times in the above quotes, but nowhere does it say that tenants are obligated to use the social services offered, or that the social services are mandatory. There is one key phrase referring to "building respectful and caring supportive communities..."; the key word here being respectful. There is nothing respectful in the attitude of the newer social workers, Jan Principato and Beverly Clarke. They are hostile, aggressive, and rude - and they make no effort to assess the individual needs of tenants at all. Rather, they appear to prefer the idea of forcing tenants to fit into pre-set categories of substance abuse, mental illness, or a history of incarceration. There are many other reasons for homelessness that should be acknowledged, and they are legitimate reasons that don't further stigmatize tenants or profile them in negative ways. It's interesting to note that Jen Principato is leaving in early April 2014; she's only been associated with H.S.I. and Kenmore Hall since the end of September/early October 2013. Rumor has it that she's moving on to work with incarcerated people. I feel sorry for prisoners that will have her up in their faces; we can walk away from her - they'll be stuck with her.

In Sunset Park, Demise of Affordable Units Feared

For anyone that's been trying to move out of Kenmore Hall, the following article is a familiar story. It's getting harder to find housing that accepts Section 8 in neighborhoods that are reasonably safe. Sunset Park was one of the areas I'd been looking at myself because it's familiar (I used to live one neighborhood over). When staff and management are confronted by tenants regarding making policy changes, repairs, or reassigning rooms, the standard response has become a variation of "if you don't like it here, why don't you move out?" That's what some of us are doing. But it takes time, and we're still entitled to a decent standard of living while we're here.

http://shar.es/RR9gU

Hundreds of apartments covered by Section 8—key anchors in a neighborhood where affordability is threatened by gentrification—are slated to leave the program

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tenant survey

Back in 2009, I was a newcomer to Kenmore Hall and had had the first blog running since June. I had planned to survey the tenants about satisfaction with conditions here at Kenmore Hall. I can't remember why I never did anything with it, but I just found the survey - and a lot of the issues seem not to have changed.

KENMORE HALL TENANT SURVEY September 2009

This survey can be filled out anonymously. The results will be used to poll tenant satisfaction with conditions at Kenmore Hall. Please provide brief responses to the following questions; additional information can be added on the back side of this page.

1. Are you satisfied with how the elevators operate?

2. Are you satisfied with how the common areas (halls, stairs, and lobby) are maintained? Are they clean enough?

3. When you fill out a work order for repairs or maintenance in your unit, are you satisfied with how the desk and maintenance staff respond? Does staff respond in a timely manner? Is the work done correctly?

4. Are there noise and/or smell issues on your floor?

5. Would you like your unit tested for mold?

6. Has management responded appropriately to concerns about quality of life issues you've raised?

7. How often have you contacted management about your concerns?

8. How many times have you had to follow up on issues in order to resolve the situation?

another potentially helpful resource

Tenants & Neighbors, 

236 West 27th Street, 4th Floor,

New York, New York 10001

Telephone: 212 608-4320
Email: info@tandn.org

 

The staff of Tenants & Neighbors is creative, professional, and hard working. We have expertise in tenant organizing and in housing policy 
 issues. We come from diverse backgrounds, but we all share a deep commitment to working alongside tenants in the struggle to defend affordable housing and strengthen tenants' rights.

quality of life

THE NYCHA NOT WANTED LIST

The NYCHA Journal has an "editorial policy of publishing the names of individuals who have been permanently excluded from our public housing developments. This list is part of NYCHA's effort to keep residents informed of the Housing Authority's ongoing effort to improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers in public housing and to allow for the peaceful and safe use of our facilities. For a full list of the "Not Wanted" visit NYCHA's website at nyc.gov/residentscorner. Please note: These exclusions are based on NYCHA's Administrative Hearing Process and should not be confused with the recently implemented Trespass Notice Program under Mayor Bloomberg's Operation Safe Housing Initiative.
REMEMBER, IF YOU SEE ANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS ON HOUSING AUTHORITY PROPERTY, PLEASE CALL YOUR MANAGEMENT OFFICE OR NYCHA'S SPECIAL INVESTIGATIONS UNIT AT (212) 306-8595."

            If the NYCHA can do this with undesirable tenants, why can't H.S.I. exclude tenants from buildings like Kenmore Hall, who have (for instance) been convicted of violent crimes against other tenants? Is it because management is lazy, or because they simply don't want the negative publicity?

banning drug dealers

If housing projects can ban drug dealers from the premises, why can't Kenmore Hall? Tenants here have been asking this question for years, and it hasn't been resolved yet. Does that mean that HSI and Kenmore Associates LP have a lower standard of living for their tenants than the city's housing projects? Apparently so.

 

 

 

NEW YORK CITY

HOUSING

AUTHORITY

TINO HERNANDEZ

CHAIRMAN

EARL ANDREWS, JR.

VICE CHAIRMAN

MARGARITA LÓPEZ

MEMBER

VILMA HUERTAS

SECRETARY

DOUGLAS APPLE

GENERAL MANAGER

NEW YORK CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY

250 BROADWAY h NEW YORK, NY 10007

TEL: (212) 306-3000 h http://nyc.gov/nycha

Dear NYCHA Resident:

In January 2005, we informed you about a new Trespass Notice Program to combat drug dealing and

drug related crime and make NYCHA developments safer. The Trespass Notice Program denies

access to development grounds to persons arrested for felony drug sales on NYCHA property. This is

to announce that starting February 1, 2007, NYCHA and the New York City Police Department

(NYPD) will expand the Trespass Notice Program to the borough of Manhattan. We believe the

Trespass Notice Program will protect the safety and security of all NYCHA residents, employees and

other persons who have legitimate purpose on NYCHA property.

Under the Trespass Notice Program, if the person arrested for selling drugs on NYCHA property is a

NYCHA resident, he or she will be allowed to return to his or her apartment and the common areas of

that development until an eviction proceeding is completed. The Trespass Notice Program provides

an opportunity to challenge the exclusion and includes an administrative mechanism for granting

limited access to NYCHA property if the excluded person can justify the need for such access and

does not pose a threat to residents.

Federal law provides for every public housing authority to maintain their housing developments in safe

condition. It also requires each resident of public housing to ensure that his or her guests do not engage

in any criminal activity that threatens the health, safety or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents.

Through the combined efforts of NYCHA, NYPD and residents, crime has dropped in NYCHA

developments by 11.5 % since 2002. While there has been much success in reducing crime, more

must be done to ensure that NYCHA developments are a place where families can live and children

can be raised without the threat that accompanies drug activity.

We request your cooperation as the Trespass Notice Program is expanded in Manhattan and look

forward to your continued support in making NYCHA developments a safer place to live. Visit

NYCHA's website at www.nyc.gov/nycha to view a copy of the Trespass Policy to learn more about

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's Operation Safe Housing initiative to fight crime in public housing.

Sincerely,

Douglas Apple

January 31, 2007

 

To get a look at what kind of crap happens in the lobby some nights, take a look at the drunk fool in this video (click the link below). Meanwhile, people who are just quietly having conversations are asked to leave the lobby at 1:00 a.m. Does this make sense to you?

 

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/VmLbAmeFFlE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

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more resources for tenants

ASBESTOS CONTROL
 Asbestos Notifications: 718-595-3650
 Enforcement: 718-595-3682

 

ASBESTOS AND LEAD CONTROL PROGRAM
 Phone: 718-596-3626
 Fax: 718-595-3744

 

LEAD POISONING HOTLINE
 212-285-4601

 

BUREAU OF AIR, NOISE AND HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
 FAX: 718-595-4544

 

COMMUNITY ASSISTANCE UNIT
51 CHAMBERS STREET 6TH FLOOR
NYC NY 10007
PH: 212-788-7418
FAX: 212-788-7754

 

MAYOR'S ACTION CENTER
 212-788-9600

 

(DHCR) DIVISION OF HOUSING AND COMMUNITY RENEWAL
HAMPTON PLAZA
38-40 STATE STREET
ALBANY NY 12207
 PH: 518-473-2526
 FAX: 518-473-2517

 

DHCR
25 BEAVER STREET
NYC NY 10007
 212-480-6706
 866-275-3427

 

DEPARMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT (HPD)
100 GOLD STREET
NYC NY 10038
www.nyc.gov/hpd

 

AUTOMATED DIRECTORY: 212-863-5000

 

AFFORDABLE HOUSING 212-863-5610

 

 

According to The Legal Aid Society, which advocates for the rights of people who are mentally ill and chemically addicted, MICA means mentally ill, chemically addicted. Just thought you should know...

1. What Does MICA Mean? Mentally Ill and Chemically Addicted (MICA) is a term which identi fi es when a person is living with a mental illness and a substance abuse issue. 2. What is the Purpose of the Enhanced Defense-MICA Project? There are too many people with mental illness and/or substance abuse problems in our jails and prisons. Those living with mental illness are more likely to be arrested, sentenced more severely and detained longer in jail than those with similar charges. In New York City, a study of individuals arrested in Brooklyn found that 18% had a serious mental illness. For those with mental illness, the trauma of being in jail and serving time may actually make their symptoms worse and reduce the defendant’s chance of achieving successful community integration upon release. Considering these staggering numbers, the MICA Project has demonstrated a measurable way to avoid wasting resources on jails and prisons, by investing in people. 3. The Enhanced-Defense MICA Project Overview: Since 2002, the Legal Aid Society’s Enhanced Defense-MICA Project has provided legal and community support services to some of the most vulnerable defendants in New York City’s criminal justice system. These individuals, struggling to live with symptoms related to serious mental illness and addiction problems, are often underserved and victimized while incarcerated in our jails and prisons. The MICA Project’s team model partners mental health attorneys with licensed clinical social workers to address the holistic needs of each client. In 2007, we added consumer peer advocate interns to our Queens County team to provide mentors to our clients. Our main focus is to get or keep our clients out of jail/prison by helping them get into treatment. Once a defendant is receiving community treatment, our unique defense-based bridge case management approach enables us to provide 18-24 months of community social services and monitoring. This bridge case management model is based on three core values: 1. Defendants in our Project are dynamic people, not cases. 2. We recognize that there is a strong connection between legal problems and social problems. 3. The highly stigmatized and marginalized MICA population is often poorly served by our current mental health system, putting them at high risk for “falling through the cracks.” 4. How Does a Person Get Help from the MICA Project? The MICA Project can assist those people represented by the Legal Aid Society in a criminal matter. We have offi ces in Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens County trial offi ces. For more information speak with your assigned lawyer or call the Project’s Director John F. Volpe at (212) 577- 3340. Did You Know? • You have a right to privacy for all your psychological, psychiatric and medical information. • You have a right to mental health, medical and medication services in NYC jails. • If you receive mental health counseling and/or medication in NYC jails, you have a right to work with a discharge planner who should MICA PROJECT KNOW YOUR RIGHTSarrange for your return to community treatment. For more information or guidance please contact: John F. Volpe, LCSW @ 212- 577-3340. (March 8, 2011) The Legal Aid Society 199 Water Street New York, NY 10038 Phone: 212-577-3300 Fax: 212-509-8432 www.legal-aid.org Printed by The Legal Aid Society KNOW YOUR RIGHTS MICA PROJECT

If you feel that you've been profiled as mentally ill by your social worker, even though you aren't actually mentally ill, you may be right... H.S.I. has an agenda, and one of their criteria for hiring new social workers is a familiarity with "diagnosing" their clients using SPMI. Here's the definition, below, according to the Office of Mental Health:

Skip to Main Content NY.gov Portal State Agency Listing Search all of NY.gov Office of Mental Health Ann Marie T. Sullivan, M.D., Acting CommissionerGovernor Andrew M. Cuomo Language Access | 中文 | PУCCКИЙ | Español | Kreyòl Ayisyen Home News Data & Reports Publications Resources Employment A-Z Site Map Message from the Acting Commissioner| About OMH| OMH Facilities| Initiatives| Contact OMH| FAQ printer icon Frequently Asked Questions What is SMI (Serious Mental Illness)? Adults with serious mental illness are persons aged 18 or older who currently have, or at any time during the past year have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the DSM-IV-TR. In order to be considered SMI, the diagnosable disorder must result in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. What is SPMI (Serious and Persistent Mental Illness)? A description of serious and persistent mental illness can be found here: Serious and Persistent Mental Illness. What is SED (Serious Emotional Disturbance)? Children with serious emotional disturbance are persons aged 17 or younger who currently have, or at any time during the past year have had a diagnosable mental, behavioral or emotional disorder of sufficient duration to meet diagnostic criteria specified within the DSM-IV-TR. In order to be considered SED, the diagnosable disorder must result in functional impairment that substantially interferes with or limits the child's role or functioning in family, school or community activities. Comments or questions about the information on this page can be directed to the Bureau of Data Infrastructure. Home | About OMH | News | Data & Reports | Publications | Resources | Employment | A-Z Site Map Privacy Policy | Accessibility | Disclaimer | Contact OMH | Web Administrator Last Modified: 11/9/2012 Security statement: Users shall not interrupt or disrupt the operation of this site nor restrict or inhibit any user's ability to access the site. Unauthorized attempts to upload information to the site or change information on the site or to interrupt or disrupt operation of the site are strictly prohibited and may subject the perpetrator to both civil and criminal penalties under Federal and/or State law.

Terms referred to in social worker job posting... AWARDS HMIS database

This is one of the things HSI wants its new caseworkers to be comfortable and familiar with using. When you moved into the building, did anyone tell you that you would become a statistic in the fight to solve homelessness? Did you know who our caseworkers were sharing information with, or why? It's one of the conditions for receiving federal funds. Read on.... Homeless Management Information Systems From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) is a class of database applications used to confidentially aggregate data on homeless populations served in the United States. Such software applications record and store client-level information on the characteristics and service needs of homeless persons. An HMIS is typically a web-based software application that homeless assistance providers use to coordinate care, manage their operations, and better serve their clients. HMIS implementations can encompass geographic areas ranging from a single county to an entire state. An HMIS knits together homeless assistance providers within a community and creates a more coordinated and effective housing and service delivery system. The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and other planners and policymakers at the federal, state and local levels use aggregate HMIS data to obtain better information about the extent and nature of homelessness over time. Specifically, an HMIS can be used to produce an unduplicated count of homeless persons, understand patterns of service use, and measure the effectiveness of homeless programs. Homeless Management Information Systems were first developed in the late 1990s in response to a mandate by Congress requiring States to collect this data as a condition of receiving federal money from HUD to serve homeless populations. The impetus behind this mandate was to reduce and eventually solve homelessness, a problem which could never be solved if it was not understood and if progress toward that goal was not tracked. HUD mandated that each Continuum of Care (CoC) for the Homeless must implement an HMIS, but they did not require the use of a particular application, nor did they provide specifications for HMIS software. Some CoCs utilize locally-developed or 'homegrown' software, but the majority adopted one of a number of commercially available HMIS applications.[1] In July 2004, HUD published the HMIS Data and Technical Standards [2] in the Federal Register, with the intent of standardizing collection of client and program-level data on homeless service usage among programs within a community and across all communities. In March 2010, HUD published a revision of the HMIS Data Standards, updated to incorporate data collection required for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), which was funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009; to align with intended changes to program-level reporting requirements; and to address feedback from CoCs requesting clarification and modification of some of the previous data elements.[3] Most HMIS applications also serve as outcome-based systems that facilitate timely, efficient, and effective access to needed services and supports for person's who are homeless. For instance, percentage of individuals who are in permanent housing at the time they exit a program is a metric used for evaluation. Other data fields focus on developing a picture of unduplicated counts, use of specific services and the effectiveness of the local homeless assistance systems. HUD, apparently finding HMIS to be helpful in evaluating success in different grantee jurisdictions, and in reporting to Congress, has begun a renewed emphasis on having its Continuum of Care grantees convert to HMIS. 2010-2011 awards will be affected by metrics under HMIS and so some jurisdictions are moving quickly to bring their service providers into compliance. See also[edit] Homeless Management Information System Software References[edit] Jump up ^ "HMIS Software Vendors". HMIS.info Website Online. Retrieved December 8, 2012. Jump up ^ "Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS); Data and Technical Standards Final Notice". Federal Register Online. 2004. Retrieved December 8, 2012. Jump up ^ "Homeless Management Information Systems (HMIS) Data Standards Revised Notice". HUD Homelessness Resource Exchange Online. 2010. Retrieved December 8, 2012. External links[edit] US Department of Housing and Urban Development HMIS page HMIS in use in Oklahoma City, Ok. Categories: Government databases in the United StatesHomelessness in the United StatesUnited States Department of Housing and Urban Development

Kenmore Hall is looking for a new social worker...

This is the job description posted on Idealist. It's interesting because of how H.S.I. describes itself, the environment here at Kenmore Hall (safe and nurturing? REALLY?), and they express a dedication to helping tenants learn to live as independently and crisis-free as possible... This is one post I'd really like to see reader comments on. There seems to be a huge disconnect between the description of what a social worker here is supposed to do, and what they actually DO.

Social Worker, Kenmore Hall Job posted by: Housing and Services, Inc. Posted on: February 28, 2014 Job description Housing and Services, Inc. is seeking a Social Worker for Kenmore Hall. Our mission is to solve housing crises for all New Yorkers through permanent, cost-effective solutions. We provide hope and stability to frail individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS, mental illness, and addiction in safe and nurturing environments, empowering our residents to live as independently and crisis-free as possible in our four residential programs: The Cecil Hotel, Kenmore Hall, The Narragansett, and Scattered Site Housing. The Social Worker will provide comprehensive case management services to their caseload including: coordination of care, individual counseling, advocacy, engagement/outreach, medical compliance monitoring and referral, service plans, regular home and office visits, and quality documentation in AWARDS (HMIS database) of the same. The Social Worker will contribute to a program culture that is person-centered, holistic, and committed to continuous improvement. The Social Worker is expected to participate in socialization activities and monthly House Meetings. The Social Worker will comply with all DHS and DOHMH guidelines and contractual requirements. All HSI programs adhere to a housing first approach and harm reduction model. Qualifications: Bachelors degree required. Masters Degree in Social Work or social service related field with 2 years experience working with the formerly homeless. Preferred experience with the mentally ill, and chemically addicted; SPMI and MICA knowledgeable encouraged to apply. Must have excellent writing , computer and communication skills. Preferably knowledge of the AWARDS HMIS database. Knowledge of community resources, harm reduction and person-centered approach essential. A strong commitment to our mission and a dedication to those we serve paramount. *Bi-lingual (Spanish) preferred. How to apply Please submit resume and cover letter to Ada Tavares, HR Manager, at atavares@hsi-ny.org Location New York, NY, 10010, US Details Education requirements 4-year degree, Social Work Or Other Related Field Employment type Full time Professional level Professional Salary range (annual, U.S. $) 42,000 - 45,000 Salary details DOE Job function Direct social services, Education, Administration, Advocacy, Database management Owner's areas of focus Housing and homelessness

Some tenants at Kenmore Hall have been asking management to make repairs to their apartments (particularly remediation of mold infestations) for over 6 months, but management has been trying a variety of tactics to get out of doing the job properly:

• Blaming the tenants and calling them hoarders (although they're NOT hoarders, and what does that have to do with mold growing in the building's walls anyway?)
• Telling inspectors that the tenant won't let building management or maintenance workers into the room to make repairs
• Management tells maintenance to scrub the walls and do a paint job - this is not the right way to take care of mold at all

H.S.I. and Kenmore Associates may be in good company, though; they're like hundreds of other slumlords across the city who are more concerned about the money in their pockets than the quality of life for their tenants. Click on the titles of articles below for similar situations:

Links

Daily News article about slumlords who make city pay for repairs

O repaired, thousands to go

H.S.I. Lies To Tenants About Conditions In Building

As a Rent Stabilized tenant of this S.R.O., you have witnessed the way our building runs and the problems which affect it. A few feel it’s being run O.K., while the majority of residents are not satisfied with conditions and would like some big changes. What’s YOUR opinion, and what do you think should be done? The first thing tenants need to know is what they are entitled to as residents of this building. For example, you are entitled by LAW to safe reliable elevators. Another important point is what your legal rights are as a tenant! You have many rights under Rent Stabilization Law and Code, N.Y. State Real Property Law and other Housing laws. Free copies of the “Tenants Rights Guide” are available from the New York State Attorney General’s Office, State Capitol, Albany, NY 12224, or from any other office of the Attorney General. The Guide may be downloaded from the Attorney General’s website: www.ag.ny.gov. There is also a New York City office located at 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271-0332; the phone number there is 212-416-8000. The Guide is available in English and Spanish, and you can have multiple copies sent to you at once. Management would have you believe that they ‘make the rules’. They are wrong and staff misleads tenants into thinking that they have no rights. It is about time that residents organize a tenants association and encourage other tenants to participate and change our S.R.O. into a safer, well maintained building. Remember that there is strength in numbers and a unified front is difficult to beat! Some tenants are upset by vermin (mice, roaches) in their apartments; other tenants have mold growing in their apartments. Quite a few tenants are infuriated by the lack of regular elevator maintenance. Since management has a new policy of trying to blame tenants for causing these problems, it makes more sense to call 311 immediately and report violations of the habitability of the building. Having limited access to elevators is especially hard on our neighbors who use wheelchairs, walkers or canes to get around. Beware of another new tactic used by case workers and management; if tenants complain about vermin in their rooms, they may call tenants hoarders and then make false accusations about tenants to Adult Protective Services – they’ve called several tenants “hoarders” already. This is dangerous and malicious. Their attempts at profiling tenants are empty and baseless, How to successfully respond to false accusations like this will be discussed in a new issue of the newsletter.

Several years ago, I had a very unpleasant experience here at Kenmore Hall. Management and Security completely dropped the ball, and showed me that tenant safety is definitely NOT top priority in the building. It also taught me not to trust staff at all, and that they have nothing worthwhile to offer. I am NOT a victim, I'm a SURVIVOR, and no thanks to them. Another reason I'm bringing up "ancient history" is that during the fall of 2013, Mr. Garcia called me down to his office to see if I'd mind if the ban on Mr. Ross's girlfriend could be lifted so she could visit him. It was quite easy to say no, particularly since since a good friend of mine is also currently banned from the building. I suggested to Mr. Garcia that it might become easier for me to change my mind about Mr. Ross's girlfriend if my friend were no longer banned - and he dropped the whole conversation immediately, telling me I was comparing apples and oranges. The difference is, of course, that Ross's girlfriend helped him attack me right here in the building, and my friend has never attacked anyone here, ever, to the best of my knowledge. Security in this building is a relative thing; personally, I feel safer on the streets outside that I do inside the building, and I also believe that the surveillance cameras are here to protect the building, not the tenants. Here's the back story on this: Wednesday, December 22, 2010 Watch Your Back If you get assaulted in Kenmore Hall, don’t count on desk staff in the lobby to assist you (either by intervening or calling the police on their own), despite the fact that we have surveillance cameras in all common areas of the building and someone is supposed to be monitoring them at all times, and that the desk staff reports to the Director of Security. Expect to have desk staff challenge why you’ve called the police in the event of a violent crime. Most of all, take note of the fact that the green sign that used to sit on the reception desk alerting tenants, guests and others that closed circuit cameras are in use throughout the building for the protection of tenants and guests has been removed. Now, instead, we have two signs – one in the lobby seating area, the other in the second floor community room – advising people that photography and videotaping in the building is prohibited without prior consent from H.S.I. Most of all, if you’ve been assaulted in Kenmore Hall, don’t count on having management or the Director of Security cooperate with the District Attorney’s office should the incident go to trial by providing the proper segment of videotape showing the assault (should you be lucky enough to be assaulted in a part of the building that’s under video surveillance in the first place). Are tenants supposed to feel that the surveillance cameras in the building are here to protect tenants, or to protect the building? That’s not an original observation on my part; it’s a rhetorical question I was asked during an interview I had with a Victim’s Services worker at the District Attorney’s office this past summer. We both knew the real answer. I was assaulted on an elevator in Kenmore Hall by Timothy Ross, another tenant, on June 1st, 2010, just before 7:00 in the evening. The attack didn’t stop in the elevator; he and his girlfriend chased me up the hallway from the elevator to my room on the 11th floor, hitting me hard enough in and around the head to bloody my nose and make me see stars. I’m afraid to think of what would have happened if another neighbor hadn’t been on the elevator with me, trying to block Ross’s blows, and finally calming him enough to get him to walk away while I let myself into my room to call the police. When I went down to the lobby that evening to meet the police officers, the desk staff wanted to know why I’d called the police (why wouldn’t I after being viciously attacked?); then they wanted me to fill out an incident report immediately, and I had to explain to them that I was going to speak to the police officers first, because that took priority over everything else. Ross was already in the lobby, and had apparently already spoken to the desk staff. I gave my statement to the police officers, and had Ross arrested. Incredibly, the female police officer I was speaking to couldn’t seem to believe that I really wanted to have him arrested; she asked me three or more times whether that was what I definitely wanted. He was finally arrested – and protested being handcuffed. When I went back into the lobby, I stopped at the reception desk to file an incident report, and White told me that an incident report had already been filed by Ross. I had to insist on filing a report because the desk staff apparently had difficulty understanding that there were two sides to the incident, and that I was the victim and that my statement was essential. The following evening, a large group of tenants was congregated in the lobby. Some of them appeared to be drunk; several made loud, threatening and racist comments directed at me when I walked by from the elevator to the front door. This was witnessed by another tenant, who was with me, and was loud enough that it must have been audible to the staff at the reception desk. Another tenant entered the building and spat repeatedly at me as he passed me. I was called a white bitch, and the threats included “getting” me off camera on 22nd Street. Obviously, Ross had been busy talking to his friends about the incident, and I had become a target for what sounded like an angry mob. Over the next few weeks, I was approached by several other tenants who demanded to know what had happened between Ross and me, and the encounters were not particularly pleasant – the questions weren’t simply questions, they felt like challenges. I had to remind them that it didn’t concern them, and that the matter was being handled by the District Attorney’s office. Interestingly enough, a couple of black tenants made supportive comments during that period of time – telling me that they disliked the gossiping and ugly talk Mr. Ross’s friends were spreading around the building. They also commented on the strong division in the building across racial lines. The trial was adjourned twice over the summer and fall. The District Attorney’s office met with my witness and me to collect our statements; we were told in July that they were having trouble getting Ralph Garcia, Director of Security at Kenmore Hall, to submit the segment of video from the surveillance cameras that showed the assault, as he promised me he would do if it was subpoenaed. The copy of the video was finally received at the D.A.’s office the day after one of the adjourned trial dates in August. During this entire time, no one from H.S.I. management contacted me to find out how I was or anything about the case. On July 1st, though, I came home to find that a memo had been placed on all the doors in my hall regarding management’s intention to take legal action against tenants continued to throw trash out the windows of the building, signed by Dan Danaher. I was outraged, and responded in writing immediately. That letter is included later in this post. Danaher has never responded to my letter. Over the fall, commentary on the matter by other tenants mostly trickled off, but one evening another tenant asked me if I wouldn’t accept an apology from Ross and drop the case. He’d apparently been asked to relay the outrageous message by Ross himself. Ross pleaded guilty to the assault charge on December 8, and the result is that I have a permanent order of protection against him and he has a class B criminal misdemeanor on his record. Instead of going to jail, he has to serve five days of community service. He gets to stay in the building because H.S.I. apparently doesn’t feel that his attack on me merits his being evicted. According to the District Attorney’s office, Mr. Ross’s sentence to do community service rather than being sent to jail was based on his not having been arrested within the past 8 years (although he has had legal problems in the past), and the segment of video they’d reviewed which showed various people walking around a variety of floors in the building. Both Ralph Garcia and Mollie Mattimore have told me that they both viewed the video records taken from the surveillance cameras, and that what was sent to the D.A.’s office definitely showed the assault. When I asked Garcia and Mattimore why it took so long to deliver the tape to the D.A.’s office, and why it didn’t show the actual assault, they told me a ridiculous story about the subpoena arriving at H.S.I.’s Park Avenue offices during Garcia’s vacation addressed directly to Mr. Garcia rather than being addressed to him as a staff member of H.S.I., and it not being opened or dealt with until his return because they didn’t realize it was pressing business that directly concerned H.S.I. Mattimore claims that Garcia often receives mail regarding legal cases involving tenants who have moved out of H.S.I. properties, and that they assumed that this correspondence involved one of those cases. She also mentioned that Dan Danaher had noticed it when it arrived. Garcia claims he hand-delivered the subpoenaed video to the D.A.’s office as soon as he returned from his vacation. I find it interesting that Danaher’s name came up in this conversation, not only because it sounds like an interesting way to pass the blame on to another staff member, but also because I had complained to Danaher about his “flying trash” memo at the beginning of July. Mattimore also told me that while she wishes that Ross could be removed from the building, it’s very difficult to evict tenants unless they owe phenomenal amounts of back rent and don’t have the means to pay up. That doesn’t sound completely accurate, though. For example, DHCR’s Section 8 tenant package contains a list of rules and regulations concerning tenant conduct while they’re receiving the Section 8 subsidy. Item four on the second page of this list prohibits tenants from engaging “in drug-related criminal activity or violent criminal activity or other criminal activity that threatens the health, safety, or right to peaceful enjoyment of other residents and persons residing in the immediate vicinity of the premises.” Hmmm. Ross has pleaded guilty to a violent criminal act against me. I certainly haven’t had much “peaceful enjoyment” since the assault. The only way I can effectively enforce the order of protection is if he violates it – then I can call the police and have him arrested again - but who in their right mind would want to have to endure another attack? So what’s the problem with getting him out of the building? Kenmore Hall is not a long-term housing solution for me. It was never intended to be more than a transitional solution while I find employment and better housing. I’d rather be living in a one or two bedroom apartment in Brooklyn, frankly, and I’ve been pursuing that. While I don’t want to be here any longer than absolutely necessary, I also don’t want to move out in haste just to get away from a criminal who has victimized me. When I move out, it has to be a stable, upward move, not a lateral or insecure move. Here is the body of the letter I sent to Danaher in July: July 1, 2010 Dan Danaher, Director of Operations H.S.I. / Housing and Services Inc. 461 Park Avenue New York NY 10010 FAX: 212-252-9322 RE: Memo regarding disposal of trash Danaher; When I returned home to Kenmore Hall last night, I found a copy of your memo stating that management has received complaints from community members about trash being thrown out Kenmore Hall’s windows, and that management will “immediate initiate legal proceedings against said tenant(s)” tucked in my door (#11J). While I appreciate the seriousness of the situation and the need to ensure that all tenants are put on notice about it, I found the memo offensive for several reasons. Your memo states that throwing garbage out the windows at Kenmore Hall is both unacceptable and dangerous, but is it any more unacceptable and dangerous than the vicious assault on me by another tenant that took place in the building on June 1st? Timothy Ross and his girlfriend attacked me on an elevator that evening, and pursued me up the hallway, punching me repeatedly in the head and neck, hard enough for me to see stars – and if it hadn’t been for the intervention of another tenant, I doubt very much that the attack would have stopped before I was severely injured. Most of the attack took place in a hallway on camera and was recorded on the surveillance tapes, and took over five minutes. The desk staff on duty at that time did nothing to intervene; I understand that they are not security officers, but they didn’t even bother to call 911. I called the police myself and filed a police report and had the other tenant arrested. We’ll be in court in August. So much for safety and acceptable behavior in the building; the security cameras are basically useless when violent behavior that is completely visible to the staff who are supposed to be monitoring activities in the building isn’t acted on immediately and effectively. I realize that H.S.I. has a commitment to providing housing to low-income people, and that part of its mission includes helping provide stable housing to ex-offenders and people with substance abuse problems. I was told when I was interviewed as a candidate for housing here that there were tenants with active drug abuse problems in the building, but I was led to believe that one of the conditions of their tenancy was that they be actively involved in some type of rehabilitation program, but that what tenants do in their rooms with the doors closed tends to be overlooked. Over the past year, I’ve repeatedly smelled marijuana and other drugs seeping out from under other doors at my end of the hall. It’s revolting and unpleasant, and proves a point that regardless of whether their doors are shut or not, fumes are able to seep around the door frames into common areas. I’ve encountered severely intoxicated tenants in the halls, elevators, lobby and loitering by the front door so many times I’ve lost count; they may be consuming their drugs and alcohol in private, but their intoxicated behavior (which includes urination on the floor of the community room, up the hall of the second floor and in the elevators – as well as lewd and hostile comments to me and other tenants) becomes a public issue once they leave their rooms, and it’s unacceptable to me. I have to be constantly on guard on my way in and out of the building; I refuse to subject the decent people I know outside the building to the conditions inside the building – which restricts my right to entertain friends at home – and I would never consider bringing my minor son to visit me in this building again after having been assaulted on June 1st because it would be irresponsible and negligent for me to expose my son to a potentially dangerous situation – and this interferes with and restricts my ability to have free contact with a blood relative. Based on my experiences at Kenmore Hall over the past year, it would appear that the rights and freedoms of tenants conducting illegal activities are made a higher priority than those of the decent, law-abiding tenants. Will H.S.I. ever take responsibility for this and make the building a safe place for ALL tenants? I’m not the first person to be physically attacked in the building, and I’m sure I’m not the last – and meanwhile, we’re being given notices about the dangers of throwing trash out windows. This memo is very similar to one distributed by Hania Schwartz several months ago. If there’s a need to revisit the issue, then I think it’s safe to assume that the problem is an ongoing one and that it hasn’t been solved yet. Why hasn’t it been, and why would distributing another memo threatening legal action against offenders have any more impact than the original one? Was it necessary, at a time when funding cuts to non-profit organizations are adversely affecting services and quality of life in the building, to spend the money and resources to photocopy over 300 copies of the notice in order to provide a copy for each tenant? I sincerely hope that dangerous conditions in the building improve in the very near future. My recommendation to Kenmore Hall tenants who encounter problems in the building – especially if it involves being the victim of a violent crime – is to report it to the appropriate agency or authorities as quickly as possible. Talk to management and caseworkers if you feel you need to, but don’t leave it to them to do the right thing. Document as much as you can, make copies and keep it organized. Follow up until you get at least some level of satisfaction. This may be “just” an S.R.O., but we all have stabilized leases. That’s a legally binding contract between the landlord and tenants; as long as you’re complying with your contractual obligations, you’re entitled to your rights. If you’re getting Section 8 assistance with your rent, you have an additional agency you can contact regarding problems.

FROM THE HPD WEBSITE Improving the quality of housing in New York City ENFORCEMENT SERVICES ONE TEAM... ONE GOAL MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, Mayor RAFAEL E. CESTERO, Commissioner nyc.gov/hpd Complaints? Call 311 • nyc.gov/hpd The City of New York DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT Offi ce of Enforcement and Neighborhood Services MICHAEL R. BLOOMBERG, Mayor RAFAEL E. CESTERO, Commissioner Division of Code Enforcement Offi ce Locations & Contact Numbers Bronx: 1932 Arthur Avenue (3rd Floor) Bronx, NY 10457 (718) 579-6790 Brooklyn: 701 Euclid Avenue Brooklyn, NY 11208 (718) 827-1942 210 Joralemon Street (Room # 806) Brooklyn, NY 11201 (718) 802-3662 Manhattan: 94 Old Broadway (7th Floor) New York, NY 10027 (212) 234-2541 Queens: 120-55 Queens Boulevard (1st Fl.) Kew Gardens, NY 11424 (718) 286-0800, (718) 286-0808, (718) 286-0809 Staten Island: Borough Hall (2nd Floor) St. George, NY 10301 (718) 816-2340 Tenant Information Message Service: (212) 863-8307 1 The New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is the leading municipal developer of affordable housing in the nation. In February 2006, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced his new housing agenda, The New Housing Marketplace: Creating Housing for the Next Generation, the largest investment in the City’s housing stock in 20 years that continues the City’s commitment to housing preservation and community development activities. It is a $7.5 billion plan to create and preserve more than 165,000 homes and apartments in neighborhoods by 2013. HPD protects existing housing stock and expands housing options for New Yorkers as it strives to improve the availability, affordability, and quality of housing in New York City. As part of our efforts to preserve affordable housing, HPD is responsible for ensuring that building owners comply with the City’s Housing Maintenance Code and the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law. These are the regulations that provide the minimum housing standards for residential buildings in New York City. This publication introduces both tenants and owners to how Enforcement Services preserves and protects housing in New York City. Tenants may come into contact with HPD’s Enforcement Services, which includes the Division of Code Enforcement and Division of Maintenance, when they contact us about conditions in their building. Building owners may come into contact with HPD’s Enforcement Services for assistance with preserving, maintaining, or improving their buildings. Introduction 12 The law requires that owners of all multiple dwellings [three or more units] fi le an annual Multiple Dwelling Registration form with the Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Owners of private one- and twofamily homes are only required to register when neither the owner nor any family member occupies the dwelling. Filing a an annual Multiple Dwelling Registration form may provide owners with notice and an opportunity to correct housing maintenance complaints and emergencies before HPD issues violations and performs emergency repairs. The Registration Assistance Unit helps owners who have questions or need guidance with the registration process. Staff members are available to aid owners, Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Owners who need assistance may come in person, call 212-863-7000 for help, or visit the HPD web site at www.nyc.gov/hpd. The HPD website now contains an Online Registration Assistance feature that will allow an owner to fi ll out their property registration statement online. Registration Assistance Unit Staff from the Registration Assistance Unit. 11 Violation That May Trigger Emergency Repairs is Identified HPD’s Emergency Repair Program may repair the condition and bill the building owner Emergency Repair Order generated Emergency Service Bureau owner callback Owner Agrees to Repair? Tenant callback after repair period Repaired? Emergency Repair Closed Owner Contests Bill? Research and Reconciliation Unit reviews Decision? NO Approves Contestation Rejects Contestation YES YES NO NO YES Bill Reduced Bill Stands Owner Pays Enforcement Services Flowchart Part 2 Housing Maintenance Complaint Condition Warrants a Violation? Notice of Violation sent to last validly registered owner Condition Immediately Hazardous? Violation Properly Corrected and Certified? A uniformed Code Enforcement Inspector may inspect your apartment Tenants may initiate legal action against the landlord in Housing Court HPD’s Emergency Repair Program may repair the condition and bill the building owner NO NO YES NO Complaint Closed YES Property Owners/ Managing Agents must annually register their buildings with HPD. YES Violation Closed 2 Enforcement Services Flowchart Part 1 Housing Inspectors Housing Inspectors are a vital link to the public. Our more than 400 uniformed Housing Inspectors play a key role in improving the quality of housing in New York City. They respond to many complaints fi led with the City’s Citizen Service Center at 311. No matter why they are called, Housing Inspectors will inspect for the following six conditions during all apartment inspections: • Peeling paint [if a child under age six resides in the apartment] • Illegal double-cylinder locks that require a key for exit at apartment entrance doors • Illegal bars or gates at any egress window • Defective or missing window guards [if a child under age eleven resides in the apartment] • Defective or missing smoke alarms • Defective or missing carbon monoxide alarms Housing Inspectors can communicate in 150 languages. Many Housing Inspectors are bilingual and speak languages that include Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Creole, French, Hebrew, Italian, Mandarin, Polish, Russian and Spanish. For those Housing Inspectors who do not speak your language, HPD has a telephone service that links them to interpreters who will translate any one of over 150 languages. Housing Inspector speaking with tenants about apartment conditions. 3 10 Research and Reconciliation Unit Emergency Repair charges incurred by HPD when repairing violations are billed to the building owner. Charges that are not paid become a tax lien against the property. The administrative staff of the Research and Reconciliation Unit review and make determinations of protested emergency repair charges. Protests must be in writing. The protest letter (with all supporting documents) should be forwarded to the HPD ERP Research and Reconciliation Unit,100 Gold Street, 4th Floor, New York, NY 10038. The Research and Reconciliation Unit can also be reached at 212-863-6020. Protest determinations made by HPD’s Research and Reconciliation Unit are put in writing and mailed to the owner. A lead abatement technician cleans up a contaminated site using a special wet vacuum. 9 Emergency Repair Program 4 Housing Inspectors In order to access this telephone service and obtain a translator, a Housing Inspector may ask to use your telephone. There will be no charge for this phone call. Housing Inspectors provide service to the public 24/7 throughout the five boroughs. Our Inspectors’ shifts provide coverage 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. In fact, most Housing Inspectors work evenings and weekends. There is a Code Enforcement offi ce in each borough. In order to better serve the public, a Public Interviewer, who is a Housing Inspector, is assigned to each Code Enforcement Borough Offi ce. The Public Interviewer is responsible for providing assistance to the public and answering questions concerning specifi c Code Enforcement actions or issues. We depend on your cooperation to do our work. If you have reported what you believe to be an unsafe condition in your apartment, it is very important that you provide access to Housing Inspectors, so that necessary inspections can be performed. Housing Inspectors may write violations for conditions or problems that were not noted in the original complaint. Correcting Violations Housing Inspectors issue three classes of Violations. Class A Violations are considered non-hazardous, and owners have 90 days to correct the condition. Class B Violations are hazardous, and owners have 30 days to make necessary corrections and repairs. Class C Violations are immediately hazardous, and owners have 24 hours to correct the violations. One exception to the 24-hour time limit is lead-based paint hazard violations, for which owners have 21 days to correct. Owners who receive notices of violations should pay attention to correction and certifi cation dates listed. If you have received a notice of violation, you may contact your borough Code Enforcement offi ce for more detailed information on correcting and certifying violations. The Emergency Repair Program (ERP) may perform emergency repairs to correct a Class C immediately hazardous violation that is not corrected by the owner. Prior to the actual performance of an emergency repair, technical staff from the Division of Maintenance or a private contractor hired by HPD will inspect the violation and create a “scope of work.” The scope of work details all of the work that must be performed in order to address the immediately hazardous condition. After the scope of work is created, the Division of Maintenance will dispatch technical staff or hire a private contractor to perform the emergency repair. Some repairs involve environmental hazards like lead and asbestos. The Division of Maintenance’s Bureau of Environmental Hazards is comprised of staff that is specially trained to remove and test environmental hazards. In order for repairs to be performed in a timely fashion, it is vital that tenants provide access to technical staff and contractors. The law requires tenants to provide landlords with access to make repairs, provided that such access is at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner. An abatement technician with appropriate protective gear removes paint from a wall. 8 Emergency Services Bureau If a Housing Inspector issues class C immediately hazardous violations that call for emergency repair, the Emergency Services Bureau will attempt to contact the building owner and occupants. This process is an effective tool in getting serious violations corrected swiftly. The Emergency Services Bureau attempts to call owners after these “emergency repair generating” class C violations are issued and provides notice of the violations and impending emergency repair. The Emergency Services Bureau reaches out to the last validly registered owner. Owners who fi le an annual up-to-date Multiple Dwelling Registration form may be notifi ed of class C emergency repair generating violations before emergency repairs are performed by HPD. This is another reason why fi ling an annual Multiple Dwelling Registration Form with HPD is important and benefi cial to owners. The Emergency Services Bureau also attempts to call the complainant or tenant affected by the immediately hazardous condition to see if the condition has been corrected. An emergency repair will be cancelled only if the complainant or tenant verifi es that the condition has been corrected. Emergency Services Bureau staff member notifying an owner of an “emergency repair generating” class C violation. 5 Special Services: Lead, Fire, Emergencies & Support HPD’s Division of Code Enforcement has Specialized Inspection Units for matters that require expert attention and skill. These include: The Lead-Based Paint Inspection Program The Housing Inspectors in this program inspect for lead-based paint hazards in apartments where children under the age of six live. The Inspectors are equipped with x-ray fl uorescence [XRF] machines that detect the presence of lead in paint. The Alternative Enforcement Program The Alternative Enforcement Program (“AEP”) is an additional enforcement mechanism that HPD utilizes to enforce the correction of housing maintenance conditions in the most distressed multiple dwellings. The AEP ensures that violations and conditions that caused the violations are corrected. The AEP team is comprised of housing inspectors, construction project managers, community coordinators and support staff that perform inspections, monitor construction work and provide tenants with information and updates pertaining to the dwelling’s status in the AEP. Housing Inspectors use an x-ray fl uorescence analyzer to detect lead in the paint on a wall. 7 Call Back Units: Responding to Owners and Tenants Owners who respond quickly to occupant complaints are vital to maintaining the quality of housing in New York City. Our Owner Call Back Unit staff contacts owners and notifi es them when an emergency complaint is fi led at 311, the City’s Citizen Service Center. Our goal is to obtain rapid owner response through early notifi cation. Shortly after being advised of an emergency complaint, the Owner Call Back Unit reaches out to owners by contacting them with the phone number they supply on the Multiple Dwelling Registration form for a given building. The Owner Call Back Unit contacts the last validly registered owner. Owners that fi le an annual up-to-date Multiple Dwelling Registration form may be notifi ed of housing maintenance complaints soon after the complaint is reported and before an inspection is performed by HPD. This is one reason why fi ling an annual Multiple Dwelling Registration with HPD is important and benefi cial to owners. The Tenant Call Back Unit calls the complainant or tenant to determine if the conditions complained of have been corrected. If the complainant or tenant cannot be reached, or if he or she claims that the condition still exists, a Housing Inspector may be dispatched to the location to undertake an inspection. Owners are not advised when or if an inspection will be performed. If the complainant or tenant states that the conditions referred to in the complaint have been corrected, the complaint is closed. 6 Special Services: Lead, Fire, Emergencies & Support Special Enforcement Unit The Housing Inspectors in the Special Enforcement Unit respond to fi res and perform inspections to determine whether affected apartments are habitable. Working with real property managers, the Unit monitors repair work and maintains contact with occupants and owners until the apartments are fi t for habitation. Emergency Response Unit Housing Inspectors assigned to this Unit respond to emergencies such as buildings that collapse. This unit provides coverage 24 hours a day and is able to perform late night and early morning inspections when needed. City-Wide Inspection Unit This Unit conducts re-inspections at Single Room Occupancy buildings (SROs), responds to tenant complaints and supports other Bureaus and Divisions of HPD as well as other city agencies, including the Department of Homeless Services and the Human Resources Administration. Special Enforcement Unit Staff assisting a tenant returning to a vacated apartment that had been restored to habitability.

In case you were wondering what H.S.I.'s privacy policy regarding Protected Personal Information (that's YOUR information, stored in their case files!) is, read the following. You might also want to limit what you tell your case worker or any other staff member, unless you really don't care who knows your personal business.

Protected Personal Information (PPI) Privacy Policy Introduction The policy covers the collection, use, and maintenance of Protected Personal Information (PPI) for the tenants of HSI, as an organization affiliated with the NYC Coalition on Continuum of Care (CCoC). PPI is any personal information we maintain about a tenant that: a. allows identification of an individual directly or indirectly; b. can be manipulated by a reasonably foreseeable method to identify a specific individual; c. can be linked with other available information identifying a specific tenant. HSI adopted this policy because the Department of Housing and Urban Development issued standards for Homeless Management Information Systems. We intend our policy and practices to be consistent with those standards. (See 69 Federal Register 45888, (July 30, 2004)). This policy informs our tenants, our staff and others how we process personal information. We follow the policy and practices described in this privacy policy. The policy and practices may be amended at any time. Amendments may affect PPI that we obtained before the effective date of the amendment. HSI provides a written copy of this privacy policy to any individuals who ask for it. HSI maintains a copy of this policy on our website at www.hsi-ny.org Process HSI collect PPI only when appropriate to provide services or for another specific purpose of our organization or when required by law. We may collect information for these purposes: a. to provide individual case management; b. to produce aggregate-level reports regarding use of services; c. to track individual project-level outcomes; d. to identify unfilled service needs and plan for the provision of new services; e. to conduct research for consulting and/or educational purposes; and f. to accomplish any and all other purposes deemed appropriate by the CCoC. We only use lawful and fair means to collect PPI, normally collect with the knowledge or consent of tenants. If a tenant seeks our assistance and provide us with PPI, HSI assumes you consent to the collection of information described in this Policy has been granted. Data is shared with the NYC Department of Homeless Services (DHS), Planning, Development & Grant unit, the agency appointed by the CCoC to manage all PPI HSI records about our tenants. DHS is required to maintain the confidentiality of the data, and has a privacy policy that is available to the public. To inform tenants, HSI post signs at our intake at our intake desk explaining the reason we ask for PPI. The sign says: We collect personal information about homeless individuals in a computer system called a Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) for reasons that are discussed in our privacy policy. We may be required to collect some personal information by law or by organizations that give us money to operate this program. Other personal information that we collect is important to run our programs, to improve services for homeless individuals, and to better understand the needs of homeless individuals. We only collect information that we consider to be appropriate. If you have any questions or would like to see our privacy policy, our staff will provide you with a copy. Usage and Disclosure HSI discloses PPI for activities described in this part of the policy. HSI may or may not make any of these uses or disclosures of your PPI. HSI assumes that your consent to use or disclosure of your PPI for the purposes described below and for other uses and disclosures that we determine to be compatible with these uses or disclosures: i. to provide or coordinate services to individuals; ii. for functions related to payment or reimbursement for services; iii. to carry out administrative functions such a s legal, audits, personnel, oversight and management functions; iv. to create de-identified (anonymous) information; v. when required by law to the extent that use or disclosure complies with and is limited to the requirement by law; vi. to avert a serious threat to health an safety if: vii. appropriate HSI staff believe that the use of our disclosure is necessary to prevent or lessen a serious and imminent threat to the health or safety of an individual or the public; and viii. the use of disclosure is made to a person reasonably able to prevent or lessen the threat, including the target of a. the threat. ix. to report about an individual HSI reasonably believe to be a victim of abuse, neglect or domestic violence to a government authority (including a social service or protective service agency) authorized by law to receive reports of abuse, neglect or domestic violence in any of the following three circumstances: x. where the disclosure is required by law and the disclosure complies with and is limited to the requirements of the law; xi. if the individual agrees to the disclosure; or xii. to the extent that the disclosure is expressly authorized by statute or regulation and either of the following are applicable: a. HSI staff believes the disclosure is necessary to prevent serious harm to the individual or other potential victims; or b. if the individual is unable to agree because of incapacity, law enforcement or other public official authorized to receive the report represents that the PPI for which disclosure is sought is not intended to be used against the individual and that an immediate enforcement activity that depends upon the disclosure would be materially and adversely affected by waiting until the individual is able to agree to the disclosure; c. When making a permitted disclosure about a victim of abuse , neglect or domestic violence HSI will promptly inform the individual who is the victim that the disclosure that a disclosure has been or will be made, except if: xiii. in the exercise of professional judgment, HIS staff believe informing the individual would place the individual at risk of serious harm; or xiv. ii. HSI staff would be informing a personal representative (such as a family member or friend) and staff reasonably believe the personal representative is responsible for the abuse, neglect or other injury and that informing the personal representative would not be in the best interests of the individual as we determine in the exercise of our professional judgment. xv. h. to a law enforcement official for a law enforcement purpose consistent with summons issued by a judicial officer, or a grand jury subpoena; i. is signed by a supervisory official of the law enforcement agency seeking the PPI; ii. states that the information is relevant and material to a legitimate law enforcement investigation; iii. identifies the PPI sought; iv. is specific and limited in scope to the extent reasonably practicable in light of the purpose for which the information is sought; and v. states that de-identified information could not be used to accomplish the purpose of disclosure; xvi. iii. if HSI staff believe in good faith that the PPI constitutes evidence of criminal conduct that occurred on our premises; xvii. in response to an oral request for the purpose of identifying or locating a suspect, fugitive, material witness or missing person and the PPI disclosed consists only of name, address, date of birth, place of birth, social security number and distinguishing physical characteristics; or xviii. if: a. the official is authorized is an authorized federal official seeking PPI for the provision of protective services to the President or other persons authorized by 18 U.S.C. 3056, or to foreign heads of state or other persons authorized by 22 U.S.C. 2709 (a) (3), or for the conduct of investigations authorized by 18 U.S.C. 871 and 879 (threats against the President and others); and b. the information requests is specified and limited in scope to the extent reasonably practicable in light of the purpose for which the information is sought. xix. to comply with government reporting obligations for HMIS and for the oversight of compliance with HMIS requirements. xx. to third parties for the following purposes: xxi. to permit other systems of care to conduct data matches (ie. to determine if you are also utilizing services from such other systems of care);and xxii. to permit third party research firms and/or evaluations to perform research and evaluation services in a. connection with the programs administered by the CCoC and the other agencies; provided that before PPI is disclosed under the subsection, the third party that will receive such PPI and use it as permitted above must first execute a Data Use & Disclosure Agreement requiring such third party to comply with all applicable laws and regulations, including the privacy standards and disclosure provisions contained in the Department of Housing and Urban Development Homeless Management Information Systems; Data and Technical Standards Final Notice (see 69 Federal Register 45888 (July 30, 2004)), which such standards and provisions are reflected herein. Before HSI makes any use of disclosure of your PPI that is not described herein, we will seek tenants consent first. Inspect and Correct PPI Tenants may inspect and have a copy of your PPI that HSI maintains. Requests for inspection of PPI must be documented in a progress note. HSI staff will offer to explain any information that you may not understand. HSI will consider requests from tenants for correction of inaccurate or incomplete PPI that is maintained. If HSI agrees that the information is inaccurate or incomplete, it may be deleted or we may choose to mark it as inaccurate or incomplete and to supplement it with additional information. The correction will be documented in a progress note. HSI may deny your request for inspection or copying PPI if: i. the information was compiled in reasonable anticipation of litigation or comparable proceeding; ii. the information is about another individual (other than a health care provider or homeless iii. provider); iv. the information was obtained under a promise of confidentiality (other than a promise from a health care provider or v. homeless provider) and if the disclosure would reveal the source of the information; or vi. disclosure of the information would be reasonably likely to endanger the life or the physical safety of any individual. If HSI denies a request for access or correction, we will explain the reason for denial and document the same in a detailed progress note. HSI will also include, as part of the PPI that we maintain, documentation of the request and the reason for the denial. HSI may reject repeated or harassing requests for access to or correction of PI. Data Retention HSI collect only PPI that is relevant to the purposes for which we plan to use it. To the extent necessary for those purposes, HSI seeks to maintain only PPI that is accurate, complete and timely. HSI will dispose of PPI not in current use seven years after the information was created or last changed. As an alternative to disposal, HSI may choose to remove identifiers from the PPI. HSI may keep information for a longer period if required to do so by applicable statute, regulations, contract or other requirement. Complaints and Accountability All HSI staff (including employees, volunteers, affiliates, contractors and associates) are required to comply with this privacy policy. Each staff member must receive and acknowledge receipt of a copy of the privacy policy. HSI accepts and considers questions or complaints about HSI’s privacy and security policies and practices. Tenants may make an appointment with the Program Manager to discuss any questions or concerns they have about this policy. In the event that tenants’ question or complaint is not sufficiently addressed through this organization, you may take your concerns to the Grievance Committee at the CCoC. Individuals will submit grievances in writing to the co-chairs. The co-chairs will pass the grievance to the Grievance Committee of the CCoC. Individuals will submit grievances in writing to the co-chairs. The co-chairs will pass the grievances to the Grievance Committee, which will review it and make a recommendation back to the co-chairs. The co-chairs will make the final decision about the outcome and notify you. More information about this Committee can be found at www.NYC.Homeless.com.

A number of Kenmore Hall tenants have been having problems with the H.S.I. social service staff since roughly May 2013. The issues include: · the closing of the community room at midnight and the lobby at 1:00, prohibiting tenants from having the 24 hour access they’d all been accustomed to for many years (this is allegedly because a number of fights between tenants had broken out, and rather than ban the fighting tenants, all tenants are deprived of the use of common areas that would be a relief from the close quarters in the tiny “studio” apartments) · commencing monthly “home visits” by social workers; social workers haven’t communicated clearly why these home visits are at all necessary, but the widespread lie the social workers tell tenants is that they signed a consent form as part of their original packet of material when they moved in. Nobody recalls signing a consent form like that, and nobody who’s asked to see the form has been allowed to see it. · Some tenants have been given peculiar health forms to sign, including one tenant who was given an HIV consent form to sign. Most people are refusing to sign them. · Tenants seeking relief from problems in their units like severe infestation by mold or roaches are told that they themselves are the cause of the problem, even if they don’t have food lying around in the open and have been filling out work orders requesting help getting rid of the problem · Tenants who call 311 about heat/hot water and other issues are told that H.S.I. can’t afford one more violation, that the tenants must not call 311 again or there will be a legal retaliation, and then tenants are banned from going on movie trips with the social director. Tenants who resist submitting to the new rules are told that they are: · Mentally ill · Hoarders · Nuisances, and subject to legal action, including possible eviction · Having a nasty attitude toward case workers · In need of help from Adult Protective Services (APS) Please keep in mind that the commentary about the tenants’ frame of mind comes from case workers who are usually at least 20 years younger than most tenants, and who don’t display their academic affiliation and which degrees they’ve earned.