Speaker 14
0:39:24
I'm Cynthia Stewart.
0:39:25
I'm the chief operating officer of the support of Housing Network of New York.
0:39:29
And we are a membership organization representing 200 nonprofits statewide that collectively run 60,000 units of support of housing.
0:39:38
I've been doing this for a good long time.
0:39:41
I've been in the support of housing field for 30 years.
0:39:44
I can wholeheartedly attest to the safety and effectiveness of supportive housing, which has been built in New York City for the past 40 years.
0:39:52
It has a sterling reputation for being both premier intervention for helping our most vulnerable neighbors live stably in the community as well for as being an excellent and responsive neighbor.
0:40:04
There are dozens of studies that prove the effectiveness of supportive housing and ending homelessness.
0:40:09
There was even an NYU study that proved that's the port of housing actually increases property values.
0:40:15
So, you know, that's good.
0:40:18
And as you know, property values, does it reflect of safety and neighborhood desirability.
0:40:24
But even though I've worked in supportive housing for a really long time and I'm a die hard supporter, it.
0:40:29
I'm I'm here to point out to the committee that it's a small part of this fantastic project, which I have to say is probably the most fantastic I've ever seen in 30 years in New York City because it has 250 affordable units in East Harlem that is gentrifying because it has the Afro Latin Gas Center.
0:40:52
Because it is and it supports East Harlem's sense of pride and, you know, a a billet and culture.
0:41:02
So it's I I I can't believe how fantastic it is.
0:41:06
So and while while I was listening to Jorge speak about all the other things, I was like, wow.
0:41:12
This is even better than I thought.
0:41:15
So of all the 3 components of this gorgeous project, I very much hope the sub committee supports the building of it.