PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kat on NYC Shelter Policies and Immigrant Experiences
5:24:13
·
147 sec
Kat, a former shelter resident and current volunteer, testifies in support of eliminating the 30/60 day shelter policy for asylum seekers. She shares personal experiences and observations about the challenges faced by shelter residents, particularly immigrants, in navigating housing, employment, and daily life in New York City.
- Describes poor shelter conditions, including issues with food, hour restrictions, and lack of staff support
- Highlights the difficulty of finding housing and securing work permits within the 60-day timeframe
- Emphasizes the historical importance of immigrants in shaping New York City, referencing figures like Eagan Estefed and Sister Cabrini
Kat
5:24:13
Hi.
5:24:15
Yes.
Alexa Avilés
5:24:16
You may begin.
Kat
5:24:16
For this opportunity.
5:24:21
My so I'm I'm here to testify to support the elimination of the 30 60 day policy and agree with others who have referred to it as draconian.
5:24:31
I also am considering that, like, be an understatement given the New York City housing situation, along with the employment challenges that the new Americans face.
5:24:46
As, as a past shelter resident, I know that I've helped testify to the shelter conditions for over 6 years, And these haven't improved, whether it's the testimony you've heard about the food or the lack of food or the spoiled food or the, like, cold food, the hour restrictions being kicked out of the shelter during the day despite the weather, the lack of staff actually helping or knowing how to help or knowing what they're supposed to do are just some.
5:25:19
And that's that's as a single adult, not even I have had friends go into the shelter with children, and they have the same problems with, like, no help for the children or how to, like, find places to take the children, how to get the children enrolled in schools.
5:25:34
Currently, I'm a volunteer with networks of children or sorry, with networks of churches, with interface networks, and other nonprofits primarily in Manhattan.
5:25:42
This includes homeless and supportive housing organizations, and I know that it takes longer than 60 days to find an apartment even after you happen to get funding secured or a voucher that applying for a work permit is at least 6 months.
5:25:55
So some people have said it can even take a lot longer.
5:25:58
And that this is as though somebody doesn't have health challenges or school challenges or other challenges just living in New York City and that those challenges can also add to health problems or stress problems while people are trying to just survive New York City, survive New York City shelters, survive New York City's housing situation.
Gale A. Brewer
5:26:20
Thank you.
5:26:20
Your time expired.
Kat
5:26:23
Alright.
5:26:23
Thank you.
5:26:24
Just look into the history of New York City, like Eagan Estefed and sister Cabrini.
5:26:29
Like, those are examples of immigrants who ended up helping with housing and helping with hospitals.
5:26:35
And that's what part of what made New York City New York.
5:26:38
Are immigrants like that?
5:26:39
Thank you.
