PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Lee, Director of Public Policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York (VOA-GNY) on CityFHEPS and Street to Home Pilot Program
1:55:34
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Eric Lee from Volunteers of America Greater New York (VOA-GNY) testified about their successful Street to Home pilot program, which utilized CityFHEPS vouchers to quickly place unsheltered individuals into permanent supportive housing. He emphasized the importance of flexibility in the CityFHEPS application and lease-up process to expedite housing placements.
- Recommended expediting access to public assistance, including waiving birth certificate requirements for out-of-state individuals
- Suggested allowing providers to create photo IDs or provide expedited access to IDNYC appointments
- Urged the city to expand HRA headcount to meet growing demands for public assistance and rental assistance
- Called for full implementation of Local Laws 99-102 of 2023 to expand access to CityFHEPS
Eric Lee
1:55:34
Good morning.
1:55:35
Thank you, deputy speaker Ayala, and members of the committee for allowing me to testify today.
1:55:39
My name is Eric Lee.
1:55:41
I'm the director of public policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York, a 128 year old anti poverty organization impacting more than 12,000 adults and children annually through our seventy plus programs in New York City, Northern New Jersey, and Westchester.
1:55:56
I'll submit written testimony following the hearing, but I would like to use my time to share how v o a g n y, worked collaboratively with DHS and HRA on our street to home pilot program, and we're able to use city feps to quickly place people experiencing unsheltered homelessness into permanent supportive housing often within 1 to 2 weeks of first meeting them.
1:56:16
While enhanced clinical support services are core to the success of this pilot, DHS's flexibility in processing the city FEP's paperwork after the person moved into housing enabled us to drastically shorten the time spent homeless.
1:56:30
By increasing flexibility in the city FEP's application and lease up process, similar to how DHS did for our pilot, the city can help households more quickly utilize the voucher to access and maintain permanent housing.
1:56:42
Our recommendations include expediting access to public assistance to meet the city FEP's requirement more quickly, including waiving birth certificate requirements for people born outside of New York state, but could otherwise prove their identity.
1:56:55
Allow providers like v o a j n y to create photo IDs for our clients or provide expedited access to ID NYC appointments to meet the public, assistance photo ID requirements.
1:57:08
Assign HRA expeditators to quickly open public assistance cases, especially single issue cases for people with income, and process public assistance, rebudgets post move in for households well within the city FEP's income limits to expedite the lease up process and avoid losing out on housing opportunities that were identified.
1:57:29
Voa g n y also urges the city to prioritize funding to expand headcount at HRA, to meet the growing demands for public assistance and rental assistance through ensuring sufficient headcount with sustainable caseloads at HRA.
1:57:42
They could ensure timely access to public benefits and rental assistance for those who need it.
1:57:47
Finally, we urge your administration to fully implement local laws 99 to 102 of 2003 to expand access to city feps, In addition to the fiscal savings that would be generated by fewer households, and shorter, stays in shelter, it can't be overstated the personal and societal benefits of helping more people avoid and abbreviate the destabilizing and traumatizing experience of homelessness in New York City.
1:58:11
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.