TESTIMONY
Ricardo Garcia, 1st Vice Commander, American Legion, on the Just Homes Initiative and Veteran Homelessness in the Bronx
1:28:57
·
6 min
Ricardo Garcia petitions for the consideration of the Just Homes Initiative to address veteran homelessness and enhance medical services in the Bronx.
- Garcia, a US Army combat disabled veteran, discusses the challenges facing veterans in New York, including access to healthcare and homelessness.
- He notes the inadequacy of current programs to fully address veteran homelessness despite increased federal funding.
- Garcia proposes using an empty building for the Just Homes Initiative to provide housing and improve medical services for veterans.
- He advocates for collaboration between the James J. Peters Veterans Medical Center, Health And Hospital Core, and non-profit organizations.
- Garcia urges the NYC City Council to consider the Just Homes Initiative as a solution to veteran homelessness in the Bronx.
Ricardo Garcia
1:28:57
Good afternoon, everybody.
1:29:00
Oh, actually, good morning.
1:29:01
Wow.
1:29:01
It's still morning.
1:29:02
Yikes.
1:29:02
What a long morning.
1:29:04
It's a pleasure to see all of you.
1:29:06
Councilman Holding, so it was good to see you and all the rest of you, Council members.
1:29:13
I'm actually gonna highlight or discuss the same concern that my colleague had presented.
1:29:20
I'm the vice commander, 1st vice commander for the American Legion, And in the same thread, I'm going to discuss the Just Holmes initiative that is presented, that was just recently presented by my colleague.
1:29:38
Good afternoon.
1:29:39
Council members.
1:29:41
My name is Ricardo Garcia, and I'm here to propose an alternative to the current proposal.
1:29:45
But first, let me introduce myself.
1:29:48
I'm a US Army combat disabled veteran that served 25 years in the United States Army.
1:29:54
One of the biggest issues that has faced the veteran community in addition to reintegration and returning from service is securing access to health care.
1:30:07
And homelessness barriers.
1:30:11
In New York State, the United States census notes that 665,257 veterans in 2021 reside within the state of New York.
1:30:25
And in New York City, of those 665,000, a 144,558, as of 2021.
1:30:34
Many of these veterans have been diagnosed with health conditions that have adversely impacted their ability to live fulfilling and healthy lives.
1:30:42
In addition, as a result of these conditions, some government's ability to secure employment has been deterred as a result of those ailments.
1:30:51
The inability to secure employment directly results from the health conditions and denotes a significant correlation between living fulfilling lives and securing adequate housing, which has been hindered due to some of these ailments.
1:31:05
While many strides have been made, to identify and improve the health outcomes of this population.
1:31:11
The biggest health care issue facing veterans is reducing homelessness.
1:31:17
Is synonymous.
1:31:19
Sadly, in New York City, many veterans still do not have access to housing.
1:31:25
Congress has gone to great lengths to fund several programs within the Veterans Administration to combat the veteran homelessness crisis, but the data still reveals that many are still struggling to find homes, particularly here in New York City.
1:31:41
The programs I previously highlighted that I previously discussed, I will highlight now such as the HUD VASH program, the housing and urban development VA supportive housing, services for the under SSBF supportive services for veteran families, and the grandpa diem.
1:32:02
All of these have all been helpful in reducing the number of homelessness veterans, but there are many more who have not benefited from these services and are unaware that these services exist.
1:32:15
In 2009, Just to highlight how much money has been funneled by the United States government, 376,000,000 was invested to combat veteran homelessness.
1:32:27
As of 2022, federal funding has increased to $2,800,000,000 $376,000,000 in 2009, in 2022, 2,800,000,000.
1:32:39
I'll repeat that number, 2,800,000,000 as of 2022.
1:32:45
To combat veteran homelessness in houses.
1:32:48
So the reason I'm bringing this up is because the Just Homes initiative is looking you know, to they have an empty building there that would absolutely, you know, fit the need of the government population.
1:33:04
And in addition to that, the James J.
1:33:06
Peters Veterans Medical Center stated on many conversations that I have with them that they would be willing and would love to work with Health And Hospital Core to create a to create a facility or a center that could mitigate the veteran homelessness.
1:33:30
But the veteran administration cannot directly insert themselves into the property.
1:33:36
They have to use an outside entity.
1:33:38
For example, Jericho Project, turns for towers, you know, services for the underserved launches of America.
1:33:45
Anyone of these nonprofit organizations that would work with the veteran administration.
1:33:52
They could actually take that building that is in existence over there at Kobe Hospital and retrofitted to fit the need of the veteran population.
1:34:03
The reason why this is critical because it would enhance the medical services that would be provided to the community.
1:34:14
On the east side of the Bronx.
1:34:15
In addition, it would almost automatically reduce any veteran homelessness or veteran housing barrier issues that exist.
1:34:25
So we are asking the council if you could you know, please seriously, in earnest, take a look at this Just Holmes initiative that is in the Bronx and perhaps maybe consider this alternate plan in which the community has advocated for on numerous occasions that the community is you know, asking the city to please turn this into a vendor housing instead of what they're looking to do.
1:34:52
And it's a collaborative work between James J.
1:34:55
Peters, VA Center, and Jacoby, that would produce tremendous results and enhance their research their medical research and enhance their services for all the veterans.
1:35:06
Thank you for your time.