TESTIMONY
Dr. Xellex Rivera, Chief Program Officer at Housing Solutions of New York, on Efforts to End Homelessness and Support Asylum Seekers
2:01:39
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156 sec
Dr. Xellex Rivera provided testimony on Housing Solutions of New York's mission to end homelessness in NYC by offering support services, employment assistance, and permanent affordable housing.
- 75% of their facilities provide emergency housing for families with children, primarily headed by single women, located mostly in the Bronx and Queens.
- They partnered with the city to shelter over 3,000 asylum seekers by opening commercial hotels and transitioning to sanctuary sites.
- Rivera voiced support for city council introductions aimed at improving shelter services and data sharing.
- The organization provides culturally sensitive food options through their nutrition program.
Dr. Xellex Rivera
2:01:39
Thank you, Cheah Diana.
2:01:41
Ayala, and the members of the General Welfare Committee for this opportunity to testify today's hearing.
2:01:47
I'm doctor Zelix Rivera, also known as doctor x, it's easier.
2:01:51
Right?
2:01:51
Chief program officer at Housing Solutions of New York.
2:01:55
Housing Solution of New York is committed to ending homelessness in New York City.
2:01:59
We accomplished our mission by delivering essential support services as well as creating holistic paths to employment and stabilize and stay instability that individuals and families experience in homelessness can secure and retain safe, clean, affordable, permanent housing.
2:02:16
HSNY offers emergency transitional housing and support services with over 20 facilities in New York City through through Department of Home Services.
2:02:25
In FY 23, 75% of my facilities, 15 out of 20, are emergency housing facilities that service families with children, which are mostly headed by single women.
2:02:36
13 of these family with children facilities are located in the Bronx, and 2 are located in Queens.
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In the last year, HSNY has serviced 1050 families with emergency housing and support.
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We would like to thank speaker, Adrian Adams, and the members of the city council for their relentless advocacy and efforts to support on House New Yorkers.
2:02:58
The recent increase in family living in shelter is due largely to the current asylum seeker crisis, which HSNY did partner with the city to address.
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HSNY has provided shelter for over 3000 migrants with partnering to open 5 commercial hotels and working to transfer over to tier 2 facilities.
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To this day, 2 of the Brooklyn sites have transitioned fully to sanctuary sites with a continuing effort to provide resources for the new New Yorkers.
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Included in this number is over 200 families with children in areas that require 2 fair zones.
2:03:32
Before I run out of time, I do wanna indicate that We are in support of intro 123, intro 124, and intro 440.
2:03:41
Emphasize the intro to 125.
2:03:43
We do agree that the trauma that is imposed at the path center does have a lasting ripple effect when they enter the shelter assist system, and there should be a better way to streamline these services.
2:03:54
A lot of the stuff that they collect in path, we we're not necessarily privy to.
2:03:58
And so it does delay our ability to then service them when they come on-site.
2:04:03
I also wanna indicate that we, at HSNY, offer culturally sensitive foods options to our stylies by our food and nutrition program offering pantry bags.
2:04:14
Thank you for allowing me to subscribe.
