HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program

The HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program provides qualified homebuyers with up to $40,000 toward the down payment or closing costs on a 1-4 family home, a condominium, or a cooperative in one of the five boroughs of New York City. Program Eligibility:

A prospective homebuyer must:

  • Be a first-time homebuyer

  • Complete a homebuyer education course taught by an HPD-approved counseling agency

  • Have their own savings to contribute to the down payment or closing costs

  • Meet program income eligibility requirements

  • Purchase a 1-4 family home, a condominium, or a cooperative for owner-occupancy in one of the five boroughs of New York City

  • Pass a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) inspection before purchase

  • Live in the home for at least 10 years

  • Have a household income up to 80% AMI

For more details, go to HomeFirst Down Payment Assistance Program

Early Retirement Incentive for City Workers

On 4/8/21, The Chief published a story regarding the early retirement incentive for some NYC workers. Thousands of city employees may have the option to retire early while getting up to 36 months' additional pension credit under a provision included in the state's $212-billion budget that was approved April 6. The Municipal Labor Committee since last summer had urged the de Blasio administration to consider an early-retirement incentive at a time when it was threatening up to 22,000 layoffs unless it got at least $1 billion in savings from the unions to close what then loomed as a $9- billion city budget gap caused by a drop in tax revenues caused by the impact of the coronavirus on the city's economy. United Probation Officers Association President Dalvanie Powell said, "Giving hardworking civil servants the option of an early retirement will help the city maintain essential services. reduce spending and do right by the workers who have bravely and selflessly served our community." Click here to read the full article

Zoom General Membership Meeting - Good News - Tune In

There will be a Zoom General Membership Meeting on Wednesday, April 14, 2021 @4:30 PM. Please note the original meeting was schedule for 4/15/21 but due to unforeseen circumstances, we had to reschedule the meeting. Credentials to log into the meeting were sent via UPOA Eblast Newsletter, despite the date change the log in information remains the same. Check your email for the newsletter.

Great News - Additional Locations and Appointments Available for Covid Vaccine

Great news for those not eligible to participate in the DOP pre-reserved vaccine appointments:

New York State Department of Health https://am-i-eligible.covid19vaccine.health.ny.gov/ JUST ADDED ADDITIONAL APPOINTMENTS FOR:


    1. MEDGAR EVERS (Brooklyn residents only)

    2. JAVITS CENTER

    3. AQUEDUCT RACETRACK

    4. JONES BEACH

    5. WESTCHESTER COUNTY CENTER

    6. SUNY STONY BROOK

For the other NYS locations, if you get the message “No Appointments Available,” try refreshing and often you’ll see new appointments.

 




Covid-19 Vaccinations are Available at John Adams HS - Read Below

If you are looking to make a plan, there are pre-reserved block COVID-19 vaccine Appointment Slots from today, Sunday, March 7 , through Monday, March 8, and Thursday, March 11 through Monday March 15. Currently, the reserved vaccination appointments are at the Queens City Workforce Vaccination site located at John Adams High School, 101-01 Rockaway Boulevard, Ozone Park for:

  • All Probation Officer Title Series staff (Probation Officers, Supervising Probation Officers, Administrative Probation Officers, Probation Assistants)

  • All DOP employees (regardless of title) who assist with the work of NeON Nutrition Kitchens

  • DOP employees age 65 and over who reside in New York City

  • DOP employees with underlying health conditions who reside in New York City. For a list of eligible underlying health conditions, visit: (COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility - NYC Health)

  • NeON Nutrition Kitchen Interns and Volunteers

  • Each eligible employee may also bring vaccine-eligible family members to their appointment to be vaccinated at the same time
    (all vaccine-eligible family members residing in the household or one vaccine-eligible family member not living in the home will be accommodated)

  • Family members include child, sibling, spouse, domestic partner, parent, step or foster parent, parent-in-law, grandparent, and other relatives residing in the household. The family member must be eligible to receive the vaccine based on NYS guidelines and live in New York City (or if eligible by occupation and not living in NYC, must work in NYC.)

  • Eligibility for the vaccine includes those 65 and over, specified occupations (including restaurant workers, taxi drivers, grocery store workers, teachers, transit employees, healthcare staff, etc.), and those with certain underlying health conditions. For a full list of eligibility, visit COVID-19: Vaccine Eligibility - NYC Health.

Getting to the Vaccination Site:

John Adams High School is accessible via public transportation on the "A" train. It is a 5-minute walk from the 104 Street Station. Alternatively, if you wish to make a vaccination appointment and need transportation, please speak with your supervisor/manager/chain-of-command regarding arranging the use of an agency vehicle.


Video of Zoom General Membership Meeting Held 2-23-21 Is Now Available

If you were not able to attend the Zoom General Membership Meeting for Active and Retired Members on 2-23-21, you can now view the video of the meeting. Here are three documents with helpful links that were discussed during the meeting. Mt Sinai - Covid Vaccines and Side Affects, Jordan Ziegler - Covid-19 and Worker’s Compensation Claims and Helpful Links For Covid -19 Benefits and Claims

Register Now - UPOA President Speaks at NYS Association Of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislators Inc

Do not miss President Powell speak on Criminal Justice Reform - Addressing the Issues of Reducing Recidivism and Rehabilitation in NYC Jails at the virtual NYS Association of Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislator Caucus. She will be one of the panelist talk about the many roles of Probation and the large impact we have on Criminal Justice Reform. The event will take place on Thursday, February 25, 2021 between 12:30 PM - 2:00 PM. If you are interested click here to register and the fee is $20.00.