PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joelle Ballam-Schwan, Associate Director of Engagement and Communications at Supportive Housing Network of New York
4:09:17
·
125 sec
Joelle Ballam-Schwan from the Supportive Housing Network of New York testified about the critical importance of mental health crisis response. She highlighted the need for a peer-led, non-police mental health crisis response system, especially in supportive housing communities.
- Criticized the current B-HEARD program for not including peers and only responding to 29% of mental health-related 911 calls
- Emphasized the need for B-HEARD to operate 24/7, be dispatched through 988 instead of 911, and expand citywide
- Highlighted the disproportionate impact of police responses to mental health crises on people of color
Joelle Ballam-Schwan
4:09:17
Hi.
4:09:18
My name is Joel Balamshwan.
4:09:19
I'm with the support of housing network of New York.
4:09:21
We're a statewide membership and advocacy organization representing the providers of support of housing.
4:09:26
I'm also part of CCITNYC.
4:09:28
So thank you so much for holding this hearing today.
4:09:31
Mental health crisis response is of critical importance to both me and my organization.
4:09:36
I've lost close loved ones to mental health crises, and the supportive housing community has an increasing need for a peer led non police mental health crisis response system.
4:09:45
Sport of housing, as you know, permanent affordable housing with on-site voluntary services for those who've experienced homelessness and faced systemic barriers to accessing and maintaining permanent housing, which includes folks living with serious mental health concerns.
4:09:57
Nationwide, the pandemic exasperated mental health crises.
4:10:00
And as a result, the past few years, the majority of our members reported an increase in incidents and intensity of mental health concerns amongst tenants.
4:10:07
Staff and tenants are in need of our resource to call upon to ensure that an individual increases can be met with a person centered approach.
4:10:13
Like Jim was talking about rooted in genuine connection and communal well-being.
4:10:17
Be heard as it currently operates is not providing that.
4:10:20
Be heard response teams fail to include peers, people with mental health experience, and across the country, mental health crisis response systems led trained peers have proven more successful than police read responses where be heard is operating, response teams are only responding to 29% of mental health related 911 calls, leaving police to respond over 70% of the time.
4:10:41
We have seen time and time again.
4:10:43
Police are not equipped to handle mental health crises since 2015.
4:10:46
At least 20 people have had fatal encounters with NYPD during a mental health crisis.
4:10:51
85% were people of color.
4:10:53
In order to operate outside of the police system, be heard.
4:10:56
It should be dispatched at 988 versus 911.
4:10:59
Be heard also only operate 16 hours a day as we've heard and must be available on 247, and, of course, it should be fully funded to expand its operation city wide.
4:11:08
So be heard, is a very important step in the right direction, but these significant changes must be implemented as soon as possible.
4:11:14
With the recent coloring of nineteen year old, when Rosario, we must all really say enough is enough.
4:11:20
Thank you so much.
4:11:22
Wait.
Ray Schwartz
4:11:22
I think 2 minutes.
