REMARKS
Council Member Diana I. Ayala opens a New York City Council meeting on homeless services access
1:13:30
·
161 sec
Council Member Ayala expresses concerns about the accessibility of homeless intake services in New York City.
- She notes that some people lack computer literacy or access, making online services challenging.
- She says libraries where people could access computers are closed in her district.
- She recounts her own experience waiting over 24 hours with her son at the PATH intake center, describing the difficult conditions.
- She argues that having a single well-functioning site is insufficient, and that services need to be more available across boroughs.
- She asks about providing other services like SNAP benefits at intake sites.
Diana I. Ayala
1:13:30
Because some people don't have, you know, computers.
1:13:32
So they don't they're not computer literate, or they may not you know, in my district, I have 2 libraries both are closed.
1:13:37
Mhmm.
Joslyn Carter
1:13:39
You can come into your office.
Diana I. Ayala
1:13:40
Time.
1:13:40
You know, we work really Yeah.
1:13:43
Not effectively, you know, gauging where the needs are gonna be.
1:13:49
But but it is it's it's it's it's it's a problem.
1:13:52
And the the way that I try to make is that even when you have one when you have one site that is working, you know, well, it would be nice to have multiple sites that work just equally as well so that folks that are already burden, that are already going through, you know, their own psychological stress that are now know, they have children.
1:14:12
They have to carry their belongings.
1:14:14
Don't have to travel across the boroughs to get to the South Bronx.
1:14:19
To be able to see an intake worker.
1:14:21
Right?
1:14:21
It's a it it it it it is emotionally overwhelming, and I think that it's really hard to explain it unless you've kind of lived it.
1:14:31
You know, I and I have.
1:14:32
I did I remember spending, you know, I don't know.
1:14:35
Must have been at least 24 hours at, you know, path at Catherine Street.
1:14:40
When Catherine Street
Joslyn Carter
1:14:41
was Right.
Diana I. Ayala
1:14:42
Was open.
1:14:43
And I remember somebody preparing me mentally.
1:14:46
Like, you need to go.
1:14:47
You need to take food.
1:14:48
You need to take water.
1:14:48
You need to take a book.
1:14:49
You need to take a walk.
1:14:51
I mean, at the time of my you know, something to entertain yourself because you're gonna be there for a long time.
1:14:57
Being there with my son was another trip.
1:15:00
You know?
1:15:00
He was all over the floor.
1:15:02
He was hungry.
1:15:02
He was tired.
1:15:03
He was restless.
1:15:04
He was kicking.
1:15:05
He was crying.
1:15:05
He wanted to go home.
1:15:08
You know, it it it just adds layers of the feet, if you will.
1:15:15
Right?
1:15:15
To a person's spirit.
1:15:16
And so, you know, we're not trying to, you know, favorlessly spend taxpayer dollars on things that are not necessary, but trying to make these the services more readily available to the people that need them.
1:15:30
And, you know, while I don't have a specific complaint about the site, I've been there, several times to the Bronx.
1:15:37
I do believe that it's, you know, really unfortunate that we're not able to recreate that same experience.
1:15:44
At least, I don't another borough so that folks that are living in Southeast Queens can easily access that site if possible.
1:15:51
So the the the the numbers are gonna really be helpful.
1:15:54
Now you also mentioned that when a person is at path, they in addition to, you know, to whatever other services, they also have access to HRA and snap, fair fairs, and all of those services.
1:16:09
Somebody's somebody's connecting them to
