AGENCY TESTIMONY
HRA vacancies and effects on social services
0:14:30
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67 sec
The testimony addresses the critical vacancies in the Human Resources Administration (HRA) and their impact on New York City's social services. The staffing crisis is creating bottlenecks that delay essential services for vulnerable populations.
- There are 72 vacancies for opportunity specialists and 24 eligibility specialists, among other vacancies across the agency.
- Caseworkers and eligibility specialists are overwhelmed with unsustainable caseloads.
- The delays in service delivery are hurting individuals and the broader community, potentially leading to a collapse of the social services safety net.
Henry Garrido
0:14:30
And you alluded to this, councilman, Russell, regarding HRA and human services where we have 72 vacancies for, opportunity specialists, a series 24 eligibility specialists, and even more vacancies in the agencies across the board.
0:14:46
The agency, HRAs, the backbone in New York City Social Services, safety net, its staff ensures that the most vulnerable among us, families facing food insecurity, individuals requiring housing assistance, and workers seeking job training receive timely support, and yet the agency staffing crisis is creating a bottleneck that delays those biases we deliver.
0:15:11
Caseworkers and eligibility specialists are overwhelmed with caseloads far beyond what is sustainable.
0:15:19
These delays hurt not just individuals but the broader community as people unable to access services are left in dire straits.
0:15:27
Without immediate action to recruit and retain HRA workers, we risk a collapse of the very system meant to provide stability for those who are most in need.
