TESTIMONY
Teirra Labrada, Associate Director of Advocacy, Supportive Housing Network of New York on the shortcomings of NYC1515 in supportive housing development
5:10:55
·
137 sec
Teirra Labrada outlines the failures of NYC1515 in meeting its supportive housing development goals and proposes enhancements.
- NYC1515 is underachieving in its target to create 15,000 units by 2030, with only 17% of the goal met due to a shortage of private market units and low rental vacancies.
- The program is also hampered by inadequate service rates, affecting its effectiveness.
- Labrada highlights the issue as a matter of racial equity, noting the overrepresentation of black people in supportive housing applications and tenancy.
- A reallocation plan is proposed to improve NYC1515, including developing more congregate units, limiting scattered site units, and increasing service and operating rates.
- Additional proposals include expanding eligibility and ensuring fair compensation for the workforce, addressing the needs of individuals exiting jail or prison and survivors of domestic violence.
Teirra Labrada
5:10:55
Good afternoon.
5:10:56
Terrence and Ayala, members of the New York City Council, Jennifer Wolffier.
5:10:59
My name is Terrence Adam, you associate director of advocacy at the support of housing network of New York and nonprofit organization representing the developers and operators of support of housing.
5:11:08
And we are concerned that the NYC1515, the city's primary mechanism for support of housing development is falling short of its goal to create 15,000 units by 2030.
5:11:19
1515 relies on the scattered site model where nonprofits rent units on the private market and bring services to tenants.
5:11:25
Yet the private market units just aren't there as evidenced by the recent housing and vacancy report that show that rental vacancies in New York City are at just 1.4%.
5:11:34
This along with inadequate service rates has resulted in only 17% of scanner site units awarded after 8 years when the city should be above 50%.
5:11:43
This is not just this is not just about slow production.
5:11:46
It's a racial equity issue.
5:11:48
Black people are overrepresented in support of housing applicants and make up the majority of tenants.
5:11:53
Failing to cover the true cost of operating these programs means failing those that the city has promised to support.
5:11:59
But the network develop a comprehensive reallocation plan that would improve 1515 and ensure that the city reached its target to reaches target.
5:12:09
We are seeking to reallocate the unaudited scattered site units as follows.
5:12:15
Develop additional congregate units above the original 75100, which would add to the city supportive and affordable housing stock.
5:12:23
Develop only a limited number of scatter site units to be rented on the private market, accounting for the low vacancy rate and the instability of the model as I mentioned.
5:12:31
Using 1552 services and operating, develop a dedicated supportive housing preservation program at HPD, and investigate an affordable housing overlay model where scattered contracts can be paired with city funded homeless set of sides.
5:12:44
We are also seeking to increase in the line all NYC15 15 service and operating rates.
5:12:49
To ensure parity across the program and all housing models and expand the eligibility of 1515 to include individuals exiting jail or prison and survivors of domestic violence.
UNKNOWN
5:12:59
Finally, your concern has expired.
Teirra Labrada
5:13:02
Our predominantly black and brown workforce is our fair compensation.
5:13:05
We are calling with our colleagues for a 5% cola for city contracted human service workers in FY 25.
5:13:10
Thank you so much.
