PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Timothy Pena, Founder of Veterans Justice Project and The Forgotten Veteran, on Veterans Services and Homelessness
2:17:54
ยท
5 min
Timothy Pena, a disabled veteran and founder of Veterans Justice Project and The Forgotten Veteran, shared his experiences with homelessness and veteran services in New York City. He criticized the current system, particularly the Department of Homeless Services and the Veterans Advisory Board, for inadequate support and responsiveness to veterans' needs.
- Pena contrasted his positive experience with a VA transitional program in Phoenix to the poor conditions he encountered in New York City shelters.
- He highlighted a disconnect between city-run services and advocacy groups, expressing frustration with being ignored or dismissed when raising concerns.
- Pena emphasized the need for better access to veterans in shelters and more effective communication between veterans and advisory boards.
Timothy Pena
2:17:54
afternoon, Chairman Holden, members of the city council, and guests of veterans.
2:18:03
My name is Timothy Pena.
2:18:05
I run an organization, called, Veterans Justice Project, also, The Forgotten Veteran.
2:18:13
I've been in New York City about two and a half years, coming here from Phoenix.
2:18:20
I had in 2016 Can
Robert Holden
2:18:23
you pull the mic a little closer to you?
Timothy Pena
2:18:25
Yes.
2:18:25
2016, I became homeless and, entered into a VA transitional program called Grant and Cardium Program.
2:18:35
I also, participated with the Arizona Veterans Advisory Board, on numerous occasions.
2:18:43
While at Mana House, the GPD program in Phoenix, I was the front desk clerk for a year and a half, providing transitional services to homeless veterans.
2:18:55
I was also the photojournalist, and I was the outreach coordinator with about a 100 to a 125 visits from veterans in the streets, camps, and shelters.
2:19:06
That was our job.
2:19:08
That's what we did as veterans in VA system receiving VA benefits.
2:19:16
I was I'm a disabled vet.
2:19:19
So when I came to New York, I was expecting the same program.
2:19:25
What I got was a violent shelter run by Department of Homeless Services, not Catholic Charities, not Tunnels to Towers, Department of Homeless Services.
2:19:38
It should be said that the Department of Homeland Services is not going to provide us services, period, because they are literally working themselves out of a job.
2:19:50
Every time a veteran leaves Borden Avenue, it's one less veteran on the street.
2:19:57
And if you take all those 700 veterans who are in shelters around the city and you put them in housing, we wouldn't need to be here.
2:20:07
One of the, things that I have noticed that there seems to be 2 distinct types of veteran services in New York City.
2:20:20
You have city run services such as Department of Homeless Services, Department of Veterans Services, Institute For Community Living, and then you have the advocacy groups such as Veterans Advisory Board and the Veterans Task Force.
2:20:40
My experience with the Veterans Advisory Board has not been pleasurable.
2:20:49
When I attempted to bring attention to the way that I was being treated in the shelter, in a VA program, I was ignored.
2:21:05
You were at the meeting, so was mister Bello, when, we were taken out of the main room.
2:21:14
And somebody said to the effect of, did anybody get that disgusting email from Pena?
2:21:22
The email was sent only after I was ignored by the Veterans Advisory Board.
2:21:28
And, yes, the photos were taken inside of the shelter.
2:21:33
Yes.
2:21:33
The dead bodies, the photos were taken inside the shelter.
2:21:38
They were disgusting.
2:21:40
They are disgusting, and the conduct is still continuing on.
2:21:46
We have no friends in this city.
2:21:49
As a homeless, and I believe I'm 1 if not the only veteran who has has experienced homelessness in New York City, but also worked the front desk of a successful transitional program in Phoenix.
2:22:08
We cannot depend on our advisory board nor our veterans task force because we're not saying what they want to hear.
2:22:19
So we'd be we're ignored.
2:22:22
Then when our frustrations get the better of us, then we're shown outward disdain.
2:22:30
And we have had an awful lot of discussion this today on access to the veterans.
2:22:38
If you want to talk to the veterans, we are here.
2:22:44
We want to be here.
2:22:47
We are waiting for you to show up, but you won't show up.
2:22:52
And when we do show up, DHS will not let us in.
2:22:57
I think you experienced that yourself.
2:23:01
DHS will not let us in.
2:23:06
Last week, I showed up with Francesca DePaolo, Homes For Veterans.
2:23:13
She has spearheaded numerous donation for Borden Avenue.
2:23:19
We showed up with $75 worth of coffee.
2:23:23
We had to serve it out on the bench in 27 degree temperatures because DHS would not let us in the door.