TESTIMONY
Molly Wasow Park, Commissioner, Department of Social Services on the Mission and Transparency of the Department of Social Services
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Molly Wasow Park discusses the Department of Social Services' approach to homelessness, its mission, and its commitment to transparency in light of a DOI report.
- Park serves as the commissioner of the Department of Social Services, which encompasses the Human Resources Administration and the Department of Homeland Services.
- Emphasizes the department's commitment to supporting vulnerable communities and being transparent, particularly regarding past administration issues highlighted by the DOI report.
- Assures that manipulation of data, as indicated in the DOI report, will not occur under the current administration.
- Credits Jocelyn Carter, the administrator of DHS, for her dedication and positive impact on New York's most vulnerable residents.
- Expresses a passion for supporting people through homelessness with a focus on transitioning them to safe, permanent housing.
Molly Wasow Park
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Good morning.
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I want to thank the city council's committee on general welfare for organizing today's hearing.
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My name is Molly Wasco Park, and I serve as the commissioner of the Department of Social Services, which is made up of the Human Resources Administration or HRA, and the Department of Homeland Services DHS.
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I'm joined by Molly Schaffer, director of the New York City office of asylum seeker operations.
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DHS is the nation's largest and most comprehensive municipal shelter system for people and families experiencing homelessness.
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Through our shelters and programs, both those directly operated and those operated in partnership with not for profit partners.
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We support people through profoundly challenging moments in their lives.
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Our work to prevent homelessness and our work to provide shelter to families and adults makes a real difference in the lives of the people we are proudly served.
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It is our collective mission to provide support and opportunities for those experiencing homelessness to ultimately transition to safe and healthy permanent housing.
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I open with this focus on mission to underscore what drives me, mayor Adams, and this entire administration daily.
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Our focus on getting stuff done to support the lives in New York's most vulnerable communities is our ethos, our passion of life's dedication.
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And before you today to discuss the findings of the DOI report released in January of this year.
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As the report concluded, the manipulation of the path eligibility rate was at the direction of the leadership of the past administration.
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Looking forward, rather than back, I'm committed to being as transparent as possible, and we'll work with Council and other oversight bodies to maintain that standard.
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I am equally determined to support the work of this great agency and the teams that work around the clock to support New Yorkers who have fallen on hard times and need our help.
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I want to state clearly that this manipulation of data has not and will not happen under this administration, and I have the utmost confidence in administrator Carter and the entire team at DHS.
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Jocelyn Carter has dedicated her life and career to assisting the most vulnerable people in this city.
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Her commitment to the mission of DHS has positively in after the lives of thousands of New Yorkers, and this city is a better place under her leadership.
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Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
