PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Manuel Martinez, President of South Jamaica Houses Resident Association, on NYCHA Rent Arrears and Funding Issues
1:49:19
·
155 sec
Manuel Martinez, President of South Jamaica Houses Resident Association, testified about the critical issues facing NYCHA residents regarding rent arrears and funding shortfalls. He highlighted the exclusion of public housing residents from initial ERAP funding and the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on NYCHA communities.
- Martinez pointed out a $800 million deficit in NYCHA funding, combining ERAP shortfalls and HUD underfunding.
- He criticized the lack of full compensation for rental arrears, with only 20-30 cents on the dollar being addressed.
- The testimony called for more action from NYCHA leadership, including appealing to HUD for additional funding, and ended with a call for the CEO's resignation.
Manuel Martinez
1:49:19
Good afternoon.
1:49:20
Public housing committee.
1:49:21
Thank you so much for having this hearing on this very important issue.
1:49:25
I would like to bring attention that this is just one component of a larger issue.
1:49:30
So we have the ERAP funds that have been blocked.
1:49:35
We were excluded completely excluded from ERAP funding in New York state legislation, which then was deprioritized, which then after all of the funding was exhausted than we were given access to.
1:49:47
Right?
1:49:48
Also, United States treasury in their FAQ made sure that they stated that public housing residents and federally subsidized households were to be given ewrap in in New York State, which is the only state that did this, we were not.
1:50:06
The other aspect to this, and we're looking at $500,000,000 in rental arrears that accumulated in pandemics during the COVID pandemic, and our population was significantly impacted.
1:50:18
Nitro resident population makes up 4% of New York City's population and in the pinnacle of the COVID 19 pandemic made up 7% of the deaths.
1:50:28
For us to have our pain economic economic pain reduced to 20¢ on a dollar because city council identified $100,000,000 that was actually provided for $500,000,000 in debt.
1:50:44
And in the state comptroller's spotlight, he mentioned that it was it's gonna be a $168,000,000, but that's still 30¢ on the dollar.
1:50:53
So they're not even talking about, you know, fully compliant.
1:50:57
The other aspect to this is HUD.
1:50:59
So Nietta has a $1,400,000,000 operation fund eligibility.
1:51:06
But HUD only gave $1,000,000,000, which means that we are short $400,000,000.
1:51:13
On top of the ERAT shortfall that we've had.
1:51:16
So we are close to a $800,000,000 deficit that has been orchestrated.
Chris Banks
1:51:21
May I have 30 seconds?
1:51:22
30 seconds to wrap up.
1:51:23
Please.
Manuel Martinez
1:51:24
And so which that means we have currently a $800,000,000 deficit that has been orchestrated.
1:51:29
So we have a CEO that is outspoken on the ERAP because, you know, of course, we expect it to.
1:51:36
But there has been no discussion and no communication with our population regards to this additional $400,000,000, and there has been no appeal made to HUD, which isn't her right to do.
1:51:48
We have a a concern about that, and and we ask for her resignation.
1:51:53
Thank you.
