QUESTION
What is the status and challenges of obtaining state and federal funding for asylum seeker support in NYC?
1:20:48
·
86 sec
The process of obtaining state and federal funding for NYC involves complicated paperwork, particularly with restrictive federal guidelines making it difficult for cities to draw down funds.
- Council Member Gale A. Brewer inquires about the status of obtaining $137 million from the state, of which $40 million has been accounted for.
- Molly Schaeffer, Interim Director of OASO, is unclear about state funding but mentions challenges with federal funding.
- The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) is managing the reimbursement process with the federal government.
- Other cities, including Chicago and Portland, have reported similar difficulties with federal funding restrictions.
- Ongoing discussions with the federal government are aimed at easing these restrictive guidelines.
Gale A. Brewer
1:20:48
Yesterday, with OMB, there was a discussion about the state giving you some money, giving the city some money.
1:20:54
And I think 40 something has come in, but there's still more paperwork to be completed to get the balance.
1:21:01
Who's working on that?
1:21:02
Because apparently, it's very complicated.
1:21:04
Having done this in the past myself for the previous mayor, I know what it's like, but what's going on with that money?
Molly Schaeffer
1:21:12
So I think you're talking about the federal money, not the
Gale A. Brewer
1:21:14
Oh, this is state.
1:21:15
The No.
1:21:18
Governor according to OMB, the governor gave I think it was a 137, if I remember correctly, and 40 has been accounted for, but there's still more to fill out.
Molly Schaeffer
1:21:29
So I'd have to get back to you.
1:21:31
I don't know about the state money.
1:21:33
I think
Gale A. Brewer
1:21:33
Is there federal money you're saying is still because I
Molly Schaeffer
1:21:35
think it's the federal Right.
Gale A. Brewer
1:21:36
It goes to
Manuel Castro
1:21:37
the state.
Gale A. Brewer
1:21:37
It goes to the state.
1:21:38
Okay.
1:21:38
Go ahead.
1:21:39
What's going on?
1:21:40
Why can't we fill out those forms?
Molly Schaeffer
1:21:42
So OMB is managing the reimbursement with the state, sorry, with the federal government there.
1:21:49
I will say that they've made oh, there is restrictive guidelines on how we draw down that makes it harder for us makes it harder for other cities who have publicly said that it's hard.
Gale A. Brewer
1:22:00
Chicago said that it's hard.
Molly Schaeffer
1:22:01
Chicago and Portland also said it, and we've been talking to other cities who similar experiences.
1:22:07
So we are working on it, and we are continuing to talk to the federal government about ways to make it less restrict Jeff.
Gale A. Brewer
1:22:14
Okay.