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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Lee, Director of Public Policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York
2:14:59
ยท
3 min
Eric Lee, representing Volunteers of America Greater New York, testified about the organization's efforts to support survivors of human trafficking and domestic violence. He highlighted the need for specialized services and additional funding to better assist trafficking survivors in shelter settings.
- Thanked the council for supporting Resolution 165 of 2022, calling for the passage of the SAFE Act to help single household survivors access domestic violence shelters
- Announced a new federally funded transitional housing program for trafficking survivors, including a full-time human trafficking specialist
- Requested local funding to bridge gaps in support for immigrant organizations and additional resources for enhanced clinical expertise in shelters
Eric Lee
2:14:59
Good afternoon, and thank you, chair Stevens, chair Salam, and chair Lewis, and members of the committees for allowing me to testify today.
2:15:06
My name is Eric Lee.
2:15:07
I'm the director of public policy for Volunteers of America Greater New York, a 128 year old anti poverty organization which operates 6 emergency and 1 tier 2 domestic violence shelters in New York City.
2:15:23
We also serve a large population of survivors within our general homeless family and women shelters and are launching a federally funded transitional housing program for survivors of labor and sex trafficking later this year.
2:15:36
1st, I would like to take the opportunity to thank you, chair Lewis, as well as members of the council, n g NGBV Commissioner Sethi, and the administration for your leadership and support of resolution 165 of 2022, calling on the state legislature to pass the SAFE Act.
2:15:56
This would help single household survivors, which is often how survivors of trafficking present at intake, to access domestic violence shelters.
2:16:05
While we are disappointed that the governor vetoed this bill, we are hopeful that the state legislature will reintroduce it, and we look forward to your continued support and leadership.
2:16:16
Survivors of human trafficking may turn to domestic violence or general homeless shelters to flee their traffickers, but additional expertise and services are needed to better support them in their healing.
2:16:28
VOA GNY, in recognition of this service gap, is standing up a new federally funded transitional housing program for survivors of trafficking, which includes a full time human trafficking specialist to conduct outreach and public awareness as well as offering specialized training for our staff within our domestic violence shelters on serving survivors of trafficking.
2:16:50
Given the recent actions of the Trump administration's, efforts to curtail federal funding to immigrant support organizations, we ask the council to please consider adding local funding to help bridge the gap.
2:17:03
Within our transitional housing programs, sorry, while our tran- while our new transitional housing program will strengthen the skill sets of existing staff, there there remains a need for deeper clinical expertise than current domestic violence contracts fund.
2:17:20
Survivors suffering from traumatic brain injuries, PTSD, and other risk factors which can pose barriers to long term safety and stability have acute needs related to physical or emotional trauma, mental health, or other crises.
2:17:36
Case managers and social workers and other staff across our shelter sides would benefit from additional clinical support for their most complex and high risk cases and the ability to better connect clients to supports and services within local communities across the 5 boroughs.
2:17:54
We would welcome the new resources from the council and the administration to help provide enhanced services to support survivors.
2:18:00
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.