A lot has happened since the last time I wrote about this topic. Importantly, HRA went and approved my CityFHEPS application and even sent me $$ for furniture
Per the HRA app they’ve even made payments to the apartment folks, and my first rent contribution is due on 12/01/25. HRA is for real this time, folks.😳 Did the incoming Mayor Mamdani folks get in there and clean house? Hmm. All I know is they have been very “well behaved” since the election😂
The HRA app shows that the money to the apartment was sent right around 11/08/25 so on my day off (Wednesday 11/12) I swung by the apartment to see if I could get the keys so I can, you know, start moving stuff into the apartment.
The apartment managers told me they have NOT yet “received the checks”. Apparently the caseworker is supposed to bring the checks to the apartment folks. That part I didn’t know, but apparently it hasn’t been done—for whatever reason🙄
Anyway, on the bright side, my electricity setup (public grid) was scheduled for today (Friday 11/14/25). So there’s a very good chance that when I stopped by the apartment on Wednesday, the power wasn’t on yet.🤷♀️Could that be the REAL reason they didn’t give me the keys—saving me from walking into darkness?😂 Hmm, could be. 🤔
And no, I didn’t act a fool with the apartment folks—I know that’s what you’re thinking.😂Its fait accompli in many ways, so there’s no need for that. I should be moving out any day now. You notice I’ve also toned down on the constant bitchin’ about HRA on Twitter. I mean it, they’ve been super good lately.
I’ll keep you posted on when I get the keys. Stay tuned.
Wednesday on my day off, went to Brooklyn early in the morning (left at 7am) to go take care of some business—something that will come in handy if and when we finally move into the new apartment.
I got back home at about 12pm, so I decided to get some quiet rest before the kids came back from school. It was my intention to call HRA and harass them as to why CityFHEPS application had not been processed yet, but I was kinda tired after that commute to Brooklyn, so I decided to take a nap instead. It was supposed to a one-hour power nap, but I ended up waking up at 3 pm—my old a$$😂
I left at about 4pm to go get some fresh air and call HRA while I was out there. I even thought about visiting the local HRA office to ask about CityFHEPS. For some reason, however, something held me back on this Wednesday. I ended up not calling or visiting the local HRA office.
I got back home at about 8:30 pm and when I checked my HRA app, BAM, there it was. A notice that my CityFHEPS application had been approved, and on the notice letter, a breakdown of how things are going to play out.😳Basically the city will pay my November rent, and I start to pay my portion of the rent on 12/01—basically a done deal, or so I think.
So God-willing we should be in the apartment before 12/01. There is some $$ for furniture that I’m supposed to get before my move but I’m not sure when that will come in. It typically comes BEFORE somebody moves out, but remember, you’re dealing with a targeted individual here so HRA may “forger” to send the furniture money, or send it in July 2026.🙄😂
Anyway, we’ll see how things play out but at the moment, it looks like moving to the apartment is imminent—highly likely before December. 🙏🙏
As you might have read from my previous post, after a lot of pushing and prodding, the housing specialist at the facility I’m currently living in, finally sent in my CityFHEPS paperwork on 10/20/25. The latest lease I had signed was for 11/01/25–a one year lease. So hopefully we should be moving to the apartment anytime now.
The process typically takes 2-4 weeks but you know I’ve been manning the HRA app daily looking to see if any payment was made to the landlord. That is the telltale sign that it’s time to go. There should also be some money coming my way for furniture purchases, so you know I’m waiting on that.😂 Not exactly sure how much that’s going to be but for targeted individuals, always expect some theft.🤷♀️😂Moving is the main issue though, so I can’t get caught up with the side issues.
On Thursday 10/30/25, I took a rare day off to go take care of some important stuff in Brooklyn. Turned out to be an excellent gamble because it turned out to be a super stormy day. I was glad I took the day off. I also decided to call HRA to inquire about the status of my CityFHEPS processing—if money had been sent to the landlord. I had all the time, so I didn’t mind being on hold for 2+ hours. Finally someone answered the phone.
She told me my rent payment hadn’t been processed yet, but that she had left instructions for them to do it. She said it should be done in about two weeks. She gave me a reference number to call back with in case it is not done by 11/13/25.
Who are we kidding here, you know damn well I’m not waiting until 11/13 to call. I’ll be on HRA’s a$$ on Monday 11/03 on my next day off, and on my next day off.😂 That’s the only way we get out.🤷♀️
Tuesday 10/02/25 was my work day, but it also happened to be my birthday 🎂 🎉. In my younger days you would not see me going to work on my birthday. I’d probably be drunk at 8 am. Yeah, I used to go hard back in the day.😂But anyway, back to the topic at hand.
On my Wednesday off (10/01/25), I had repeatedly called HRA to see if I could get a live person to talk to about my CityFHEPS voucher status. They have this so-called “DSS One” number that you can call for issues related to EBT, cash assistance and NYC programs. The number is 718-557-1399. Whether you’ll get in touch with a live person when you call this number is a whole new debate altogether.😂On Wednesday, I was kept on hold for 4+ hours, which I could afford because it was my day off, but I finally gave up and opted for the callback option, where you ask HRA to call you back when your turn comes. It saves you from staying on hold forever.
Nobody called me back on Wednesday, even though I had literally manned my two phones—yes, two phones—waiting for them to call back.🙄 Do better, HRA.
Anyway, so Thursday 10/02/25, on my way to work. I don’t know if it was some birthday good luck thing, but the unthinkable happened. My phone rang, and when I looked to see who was calling, it was the HRA number on my caller ID. So I answered the call swiftly—something I almost never do, I’m a “leave a voicemail” type of dude😂—and the lady on the other side identified herself as someone from DSS.
So I’m thinking Hallelujah, right? ALL my questions about the status of my voucher will be answered today, right? WRONG. As I started laying out my case to the DSS lady, I noticed she was not responding to my questions. Then I heard her say, “I’m having trouble hearing you.” That’s when it hit me that I was on the subway, and therefore I couldn’t complete the call—reception issues.🙄
Think about that, the miracle chance HRA returned one my million calls, was while I was riding the subway.🙄Was that a coincidence? Hmm, we report, you decide🤷♀️
***Updated Friday 10/03/25***
So Friday 10/03/25, I figured I’d do a “Hail Mary” and call HRA after I got off work—they close at 5pm. I called at about 3:30 pm and as usual, was treated to a super long time on hold—more than two and a half hours🤦♀️
So I decided to stay on the line past 5 pm just to see if it would be different after hours.
An encouraging message popped up around 5:40 pm saying I had a wait time of about 11-20 minutes. Yay, right? WRONG. 11-20 minutes turned into 40+ minutes and then another message popped up saying “I’m sorry, we’re having problems with this call. Call back later.” The call was cut short.🙄
Think about that. HRA kept a TI for more than two and a half hours on hold, then as soon as he gets to the front of the line, they kick a TI to the curb. Boy, that’s cold😂🥶.
Somebody has to step in and fix this HRA mess😂🤷♀️The same question again—is that a coincidence? Hmm, we report, you decide🤷♀️
So Monday 09/25/25 was my day off, meaning yet another day to go bitchin’ about my voucher situation with the housing specialist.😂
I took advantage of the fact that the kids had gone to school—enjoyed the morning quiet—and then left at about 2pm after I had gotten my rest. Messing with the housing folk early in the morning would ruin my day off😂🤔
So at about 2pm, I stopped by the housing specialist’s office and asked where we stand. She told me we had to go talk about it in the “conference room”.😳 I didn’t quite know what to make of that but hey, it was what it was🤷♀️
So I got there and took my seat on the oval conference table and her boss showed up. Relax, it was actually a good meeting. Here’s what her boss explained to me.
She basically pinned the blame on me.😂 I need a boss who would back me up like that. She basically said that I was to blame because after signing the lease on 08/26/25, the reason my CityFHEPS paperwork was not submitted to HRA was because I did not provide them with my weekly paystubs—that I FAILED TO COMPLY.😳 Boy, you’ve got to give Deep State credit, coz that was a slick one. I’m pretty sure that’s NOT the real reason—and I told her that—but you can see how that quickly becomes a legal toss up—reasonable people can reasonably disagree as to who bears the blame, me or the housing specialist—Deep State did its homework.😂🤷♀️
Anyway, as things currently stand, they had to do a “rebudgeting” last week using my last paystub, and after HRA modifies the voucher—any day now—my CityFHEPS paperwork will be submitted—hopefully sometime this week or next week. They also told me that the apartment folk are aware of the situation, which is a good thing👍
Naturally, I was concerned about how long this “rebudgeting” process might drag along but they assured me that it shouldn’t be that long because “management is fully engaged”.😳 All that ultra bitchin’ I did last week must have landed on some HRA Head Honcho’s ears.😂
But anyway, now we’re just waiting on this “rebudgeting” deal and then hopefully on to the apartment some time in October, which is my birth month for crying out loud🙏🙏And needless to say, I’m NOT giving them the “he didn’t submit the paystubs” excuse this time. As soon as it hits ADP, it is emailed to them.😂 Oh, and you guessed right, the full blown bitchin’ continues. Anybody at HRA who comes across my paperwork will be like, “Oh hell, that’s the dude…”😂
****************************************** Luckily I got off work super early on this day—around 3pm. I have class at 6pm, but the way things are going nowadays, I’m hanging in school by a thread😂 Either I will struggle just for a week pass(C grade) or something, or just withdraw and re-attempt the classes in the Spring semester.
Long story short, I thought it would be better to stop by HRA HQ on 109 E 16th street in Manhattan after work knowing I may have to forfeit class. I’m also off tomorrow (Wednesday), so if I get shuffled around today (most likely outcome😂), I will know exactly where to go tomorrow.🤔
So I get to 109 E 16th street and get sent to the 2nd floor. A boatload of people there—not good😂. I stay there for a while and then get transferred to the 3rd floor. After staying there for a little bit, I get sent to the 10th floor. At that time I already know what time it is— NOTHING is coming out of this trip😂. I just decided to stick it out anyway.
At about 5:40pm, my ticket gets called. So I explained to the lady that I already signed a lease and I was just trying to see if I can get a status on my case because this is the HRA HQ—makes sense right? WRONG. I was honest with her and told her about the “rebudgeting” business. She told me they had no access to that info and that ONLY the shelter people can give me status updates. She said they only deal with renewals. How the hell is the HRA HQ out of the loop re CityFHEPS when they supposedly run the whole show?🤷♀️😂 That just doesn’t sound right. One of the ladies who went before me also asked the same question.
Anyway, apparently ONLY the shelter folks can provide status updates re CityFHEPS. That’s the word on the street, per HRA HQ🤷♀️What could possibly go WRONG with such an arrangement? Legal eagles you know what term comes to mind—“Monell”🤔
If you’ve been keeping up with my Post Housing Voucher Drama posts, you’ll realize that we’re are in the final phases of CityFHEPS housing voucher ordeal because I signed a lease for an apartment on 08/26/25.
My understanding after signing that lease on 08/26/25, was that my CityFHEPS paperwork would be submitted to the city, and if there were any issues/fluctuations in my weekly pay, the city would kick back my paperwork so we can do “rebudgeting” and then resubmit the paperwork
The important thing to remember is that the representation from housing specialist at the facility where I live, was that she DID submit my paperwork. As a matter of fact last week, on my Monday off (09/08/25), I checked with her on this specific issue—whether my paperwork had been submitted to the city—and she said yes. She did however tell me that she thinks my application would be kicked back, and that I needed to submit my 4 recent paystubs so we can do rebudgeting.
So Monday 09/15/25 comes around, and I decide to swing by her office to see whether my application had been kicked back for rebudgeting, right? Guess what she tells me this time? That she hasn’t submitted my paperwork since I signed the lease because I hadn’t given her the paystubs. Can you believe that?😳
Her story just shifted on a dime, from I submitted your paperwork but we may have to do rebudgeting to I’ve NEVER submitted your paperwork.
See what TIs go through? Mfs just playing around with you.😂All this time I’ve been sitting here thinking my CityFHEPS paperwork was submitted right after I signed the lease on 08/26 but nope, the Deep State has just been sitting here running down the clock—and then trying to pin the blame on me.
Obviously if she told me the paystubs were required BEFORE my paperwork was submitted, I would have given them to her on 08/26. She told me the she submitted my paperwork, but we MAY need rebudgeting.
Now it’s my word against hers—you know, the good ol’ plausible deniability. If you know, you KNOW who specializes in that tactic. The important thing is she’s EXTENDED the clock by 20 days.🤔
Anyway today I stepped out of my “gentleman & a scholar” mode and let her know I don’t want to play games anymore. I pulled a Karen move,😂and asked to speak to her boss—and she DID come and talk to me.😳
She assured me that she’ll make sure the rebudgeting happens today 09/15/25. Remember that, because I’m sure we’ll come back here a week after today to find out “Oh, we couldn’t do the rebudgeting because you needed to submit the 4 paystubs and…”😂🖕
I know you are bound to ask, why would they subject somebody to all this back and forth over a CityFHEPS voucher, which is typically a SMOOTH process if you meet all the requirements? Good question, but you’ve obviously been sleeping through the previous lessons.😂. It makes PERFECT sense when you think about it with this, at the back of your mind.🤔
