PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Claire Barker, Intake Advocate at Veteran Advocacy Project
2:31:45
ยท
4 min
Claire Barker, an Intake Advocate at Veteran Advocacy Project (VAP), testified about the challenges faced by veterans in New York City and the lack of awareness about the Veterans Advisory Board. She highlighted issues such as misinformation, evictions, and domestic abuse affecting veterans, emphasizing the need for better communication and support services.
- Many veterans are unaware of the Veterans Advisory Board and its role in advocating for their concerns.
- Housing issues, including evictions and harassment from landlords, are significant problems for veterans, especially seniors.
- Barker stressed the importance of raising awareness about available services and improving accessibility for veterans in need.
Claire Barker
2:31:45
Okay.
2:31:46
Good afternoon again, chair Holden, and members of the Committee on Veterans and all advocates.
2:31:53
Thank you for your your your total dedication.
2:31:57
Again, my name is Claire Barker.
2:31:58
I'm the intake advocate at veteran advocacy project, and I'll cut it down to VAP.
2:32:06
VAAP provides free legal services to low income veterans and their families with a focus on veterans living with PTSD, traumatic brain injuries, substance use disorder, and other mental health conditions.
2:32:23
I have the honor of speaking with veterans and their family members daily.
2:32:30
Unfortunately, many veterans contact VAAP each day with their daily struggles.
2:32:38
Few, if any, are aware that a veterans advisory board exists, that that there is a board that can give voice to their concerns.
2:32:50
One of the major complaints Metair office is about how much misinformation is out there or little information or assisted assistance vets find, sometimes the phones just ring when they're, directed to another organization.
2:33:12
Many veterans are frustrated with being passed around.
2:33:16
Another issue that's a big one are evictions, particularly with our senior veterans.
2:33:25
There are reports of being threatened, bullied, and daily harassment by certain landlords and management companies, particularly in the Bronx.
2:33:36
And, again, our veterans have a hard time finding someone to assist with these issues.
2:33:43
I'll just give you a few.
2:33:45
Facing eviction after living in an apartment for over 30 years, and we hear this a lot.
2:33:52
It appeared landlords may want the apartment to have it at marketable rate because a lot of the veterans are there 40, 30 years with paying rent, 2 100, $300.
2:34:03
Succession rights with apartments.
2:34:05
After living in the apartment and the family member passed.
2:34:09
Illegal apartments, tenants share electricity.
2:34:15
City paying for illegal apartments because some of them have vouchers.
2:34:19
Veterans in the shelters waiting to receive services to locate apartments are being threatened with being removed from the shelter if they don't accept an apartment that is given to them or shown to them by the shelter.
2:34:38
Veterans are sometimes immediately homeless when returning from deployment.
2:34:45
Domestic abuse.
2:34:47
There there are no relocation services sometimes.
2:34:52
I'll give an example.
2:34:53
Survivor may have to flee the home only to be sued in court later for for nonpayment several years down.
2:35:03
I could go on, but I won't take up too much of your of your time.
2:35:07
I'll cut to the chase.
2:35:08
We as a city, we, all of us as a city, have to do a better job for our veterans.
2:35:15
Some days I cry from the stories I hear.
2:35:20
Veterans answer the call when they were called to serve.
2:35:24
They signed a blank check, and the least we can do as a city is to ensure that veterans are aware, they have a voice, and that there is a board a board they can speak to.
2:35:38
Therefore, more mechanisms may need to be put in place to where raise awareness, as you've discussed all day, among veterans that there is a board that exists.
2:35:53
I read the veteran advisory board vision, and it says, it's for New York City to have the most effective local veteran policies in the United States.
2:36:06
Please, I don't wanna offend anyone because I know we're all doing the same thing.
2:36:11
We're all trying to assist our veterans.
2:36:15
When I say services aren't accessible, it's not that the service may not exist, but the veterans are not aware of the service.
2:36:26
And they don't they don't know what's available.
2:36:32
Again, there must be additional marketing.
2:36:35
If you wanna get the word out, I'm a good vehicle.
2:36:39
I speak to veterans all day.
Robert Holden
2:36:41
Well, thank you.