PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Juan Diaz, Policy Associate at Citizens Committee For Children (CCC)
2:07:46
ยท
3 min
Juan Diaz, representing the Citizens Committee For Children (CCC), testified on the importance of CityFHEPS vouchers and the need for improvements in the program's administration. He highlighted the challenges faced by New York City renters and emphasized the need for increased investment and reforms in housing assistance programs.
- Advocated for implementing and funding CityFHEPS expansion
- Recommended increasing the budget for Homebase providers to match their expanded responsibilities
- Suggested administrative reforms, including extending the single issue time frame to 90 days and simplifying the application process
Juan Diaz
2:07:46
Thank you.
2:07:47
Thank you, deputy speaker Ayala, for holding today's hearing.
2:07:51
My name is Juan Diaz.
2:07:52
I'm a policy associate of Citizens Committee For Children, CCC, a multi issue children's advocacy organization.
2:07:58
CCC is a co convener of the Family Homeless Coalition, FHC.
2:08:03
The recent CCC's Keep Track of New York City Children book revealed that in 2023, over 30% of New York City renters pay at least half of their income towards rent.
2:08:14
There were more than 1200 residential evictions, and more than 46,000 children resided on New York City's shelter.
2:08:22
As such, we cannot underscore the the value of housing vouchers like city FEPs.
2:08:28
We value the Department of Social Services' efforts to improve the approval to improve the approval of CDPAP's packets and expedite shelter relocations.
2:08:36
However, more investment and programmatic reforms are imperative to ensure that more households receive housing assistance in a timely manner.
2:08:44
In our reading testimony, we will highlight recommendations.
2:08:48
But today, I want to highlight the following investments: implement and fund CityFabs expansion.
2:08:54
We appreciate your support in passing these legislations and look forward to make this a reality additionally, significantly increase the budget for Homebase.
2:09:05
In recent years, Homebase Providers have taken on tremendous increases in caseload as well as ever expanding set of responsibilities, including city feb's applications, renewals, transit requests, rent portion adjustments, and more.
2:09:20
This has not been this this has not been attached by funding levels to match the the new post COVID reality.
2:09:30
Additionally, home based provide home based providers also provide emergency rental assistance for clients in need of of CDFAB's 2 state applications and of client for clients at risk of eviction.
2:09:44
I also want to, recommend the following administrative reforms.
2:09:48
The current single issue time frame is 30 days, but often the process for applying and getting the voucher is longer and requires a single issue to be, resubmitted again.
2:10:01
We recommend a 90 day time frame.
2:10:03
The application package should be readable, fillable PDF forms so that it can be signed electronically and emailed back while still allowing for a paper process.
2:10:15
Additionally, consider reducing the amount of paperwork to submit CDPAP's packets.
2:10:20
Currently, case managers must complete and submit large packets, in some cases, over 40 pages.
2:10:27
Deputy Speaker Ayala, for several years, I was a supervisor at a Homebase location in Brooklyn.
2:10:33
And the amount of work that case managers and staff at Homebase is tremendous.
2:10:38
They have to enroll almost on everyday, basis.
2:10:42
They have several, times dozens of CDFEP's package applications, and, it it's with so many pages and so many requirements of repetition, the same information over and over, it makes it very difficult.
2:10:57
So that's why it's very important to invest in home base to reduce, you know, the time the application needs to be submitted.
2:11:06
Thank you for your time.