TESTIMONY
MJ Okma, Senior Manager for Advocacy and Government Relations at SAGE, on Renewing Funding and Addressing the Needs of LGBTQ+ Elders and Older New Yorkers Living with HIV
2:19:03
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138 sec
MJ Okma highlights the vital services provided by SAGE for LGBTQ+ elders and older New Yorkers living with HIV, stressing the need for renewed funding and increased investment in aging services.
- Okma emphasizes the significant role SAGE has played over four decades in offering comprehensive social services and community programs to LGBTQ+ older adults and those living with HIV.
- They point out the critical situation of LGBTQ+ elders being invisible, under-served, and isolated, with a rapidly growing population amidst insufficient support.
- In fiscal year 25, SAGE seeks to renew its funding to continue vital initiatives, like the LGBTQIA Older Adult Centers in various boroughs.
- Okma warns of the detrimental impacts that funding cuts to aging services could have on these communities, given the systematic barriers they face.
- They underscore the necessity for more investments in NYC Aging, the city's sole agency for older individuals, to better meet the needs of diverse and growing older populations.
MJ Okma
2:19:03
Good afternoon to your Hudson and members of the committee on Aging.
2:19:06
My name is MJ Oakma with Sage.
2:19:08
Sage has been serving LGBTQ plus elders, and New Yorkers would living with HIV for over 4 decades, providing comprehensive social services and community building programming through a network of LGBTQ plus welcoming older adult centers in New York City.
2:19:21
As well as specialized services for homebound elders, LGBTQ plus veterans, transgender elders, and older New Yorkers living with HIV.
2:19:28
Services for older New York are more critical with than ever with the population of New Yorkers over the age 60.
2:19:34
I'm growing five times faster than those under 18 with LGBTQ plus elders may up a significant part of that rapidly growing population.
2:19:41
However, LGBTQ plus elders are often invisible, disconnected from services in yearly isolated as they're far likely to live alone and most likely to rely on children or other family members for informal caregiving.
2:19:51
In fiscal year 25, say is seeking a renewal of our funding at fiscal year 24 levels, including under the Vital LGBTQIA older adult centers at every bureau initiative that makes our work in Harlem, the Bronx Brooklyn and in partnership with the Price Center Staten Island possible.
2:20:05
More information about all the initiatives that we have requested a renewal under are in my written testimony, but I wanna use the remainder of my time to really stress that any cuts to aging services will have detrimental impacts on LGBTQ plus elders in older New Yorkers living with HIV V who already faced systematic barriers to services due to ageism, stigma, and discrimination.
2:20:27
Beyond that, there's an urgent need for increased investments into New York City Aging, the city's only agency that focuses on older New York brokers.
2:20:35
This committee has held really important oversight hearing on the needs of LGBTQ plus older New Yorkers.
2:20:41
New Yorkers living with HIV, older immigrant New Yorkers, and food insecurity among older New Yorkers.
2:20:47
Which have all exposed deep gaps in services across the city.
2:20:51
And I'd really stress people to listen and read the testimony that was available all those important oversight hearings.
2:20:57
NYC Aging whose funding has already been cut to the bone is unable to bet best need the meet the needs of these diverse and rapidly growing populations.
2:21:05
We're receiving less than 1% diversity's total budget.
2:21:08
Sage Deeply values our partnership with the council, NYC Aging, and look forward to working with you to fight for more investments in aging services and address the needs of LGBTQ plus elders in older New Yorkers living with HIV in in Bevero.
2:21:20
Thank you.