PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Isaac Adlerstein, Executive Director of Broadway Community
5:34:27
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123 sec
Isaac Adlerstein, Executive Director of Broadway Community, testified about the housing crisis in New York City and its impact on vulnerable populations. He shared insights from his organization's work with homeless and rent-burdened individuals, highlighting the strain on the city's housing stock and emergency services.
- Broadway Community serves hundreds of New Yorkers weekly, with about half living on the streets or in shelters, and the other half severely rent-burdened.
- Adlerstein cited statistics on homelessness and food insecurity in NYC, emphasizing the long wait times for permanent housing placement.
- While acknowledging some positive aspects of the City of Yes proposal, Adlerstein urged the City Council to revisit the plan, suggesting a more precise approach and better community education.
Isaac Adlerstein
5:34:27
Hi.
5:34:27
Good afternoon, and thanks so much for giving us all the opportunity to to speak.
5:34:33
So I'm Isaac Alberstein as serve as the executive director of Broadway Community.
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We are a forty two year old human service agency in Morning Side Heights.
5:34:42
We operate a soup kitchen, a shelter, on-site medical services, and partnership with the Institute for Family Health, case management services, and so much more.
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Each week, hundreds of new Yorkers come to us to find food, sanctuary, and community.
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Approximately
Kate Van Tassel
5:34:57
half of
Isaac Adlerstein
5:34:57
the people that we serve, whom we call guests, are currently living in streets or in the shelter system.
5:35:02
The other half is severely rent burden, necessitating reliance on emergency services, does that we provide.
5:35:09
New York City, of course, is known worldwide as a place of opportunity.
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But for far too many, that promise is slipping away.
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We've heard the statistics already, but last night, 87,000 people slept in the shelter system, including over 19,000 families with sheltering.
5:35:23
And according to City Harvest, approximately 1,400,000 New Yorkers have depended on emergency food programs in 2023.
5:35:35
Another point is that in fiscal year 2023, the average single adult in the shelter systems spent 4 12 days in the system before being placed in the permanent housing.
5:35:45
So clearly, there's just a serious strain on the housing stock.
5:35:53
Pathway out of homelessness is not straightforward when someone gets a city theft voucher or is approved for 2020, it could take months or even years to find a suitable place.
5:36:04
City of Yass has a lot of really interesting and compelling ideas, but after hearing some of the other testimonies today, I'd urge the city council to airbury visit, the plan as a whole.
5:36:16
Again, I think there are lots of great ideas there, but I don't think that it be a hammer.
5:36:21
I think that it should be more precise approach and do a bit more education with the communities that that will be affected.
5:36:29
Thank you.
