TESTIMONY
Gabriela Sandoval Requena, Director of Policy and Communications at New Destiny House, on addressing domestic violence, homelessness, and affordable housing access in New York City
4:22:56
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176 sec
New Destiny House advocates for ending the double trauma of abuse and homelessness among survivors of violence in New York City.
- Highlights alarming 1.4% rental vacancy rate in 2023, with rates below 1% for homes under $2,100
- Calls for administrative solutions to improve access to affordable housing, including allowing domestic violence survivors access to Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) set-aside units
- Recommends opening city-funded supportive housing to domestic violence survivors and their children not currently eligible for NYC 15/15
- Supports developing additional congregate units above the original commitment of 75,100 homes in the NYC 15/15 program
- Emphasizes that domestic violence is a main cause of homelessness in New York City
Gabriela Sandoval Requena
4:22:56
Good afternoon.
4:22:58
Thank you for holding this meeting.
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Committee chair Sanchez, members of the council and council staff.
4:23:05
Thank you for taking the time to listen to us and the opportunity to testify.
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I'm testifying on behalf of New Destiny House My name is Gabriela Sandoval Rekina.
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I am the director of policy and communications.
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Nadeshny's mission is to end the double trauma of abuse and homelessness among the most the most violent survivors.
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We do this by developing supportive housing for survivors and shelter like our two sites and council districts 8 14, assisting those who are fleeing abuse to obtain subsidies and find safe new homes and advocating for more housing resources.
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Nadesden is also a co convener of the family home business coalition and a member of the supported housing network of New York and also a n h d.
4:23:46
Why do we do this work because despite the fact that only 50% of domestic violence cases are reported in 2022, the NYPD filed 1 domestic violence incident report every 2 minutes.
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In other words, since this hearing started, more than 120 survivors called the police for abuse and countless others suffered than silence.
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Domestic violence continues to be a main cause of homelessness in New York and access to safe and affordable permanent housing will determine whether survivors leave their abuser survive and rebuild their lives.
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We are submitting extended written testimony.
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So I'm going to use this time to summarize our 4 key points.
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First, we're deeply concerned with the alarming low 1.4 vacancy rate 1.4% vacancy rate for rentals in 2023, especially with the net rental vacancy rate for homes under 24100 falling below 1%.
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The lack of housing makes it extremely difficult for survivors and only Yorkers with rental assistance to find housing.
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The administration must ensure that both HPD and DOB have enough resources to clear the backlog of affordable housing projects and develop and trade new staff.
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Additionally, we also want to call attention to do administrative solutions that will improve timely access to affordable housing and would not cost the city anything.
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1, allow survivors of domestic violence access to HPE home the set aside units as the mayor promised in the housing.
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Our neighbor's blueprint, black in 2022, second, open city
Pierina Ana Sanchez
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from the state of California.
4:25:19
I'm supposed to interrupt you and ask if you would like to complete your testimony.
Elaina Wood
4:25:24
Yes.
4:25:25
Yes.
4:25:25
Go ahead.
Gabriela Sandoval Requena
4:25:26
I'm so sorry about that.
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As I was saying, Open Up City funded supportive housing to domestic violence survivors and their children who are not currently for NYC-fifteen fifteen.
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And last but not least, New Destiny also supports the network's recommendations to improve NYC-fifteen fifteen given the extremely housing vacancy rate, the city must develop additional congregate units above the original commitment of 75100 homes.
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Thank you
Pierina Ana Sanchez
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for your time.