REMARKS
Council Member Diana Ayala's opening remarks on HASA oversight hearing
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Council Member Diana Ayala, as deputy speaker and chair of the General Welfare Committee, delivers opening remarks for an oversight hearing on the HIV/AIDS Services Administration (HASA) program. She outlines the purpose of the hearing, provides background on HASA, and highlights key issues to be addressed.
- Ayala emphasizes HASA's failure to meet legally required case ratios and the need to address the aging population of HIV-positive New Yorkers.
- She introduces legislation to be discussed, including a pre-considered intro and Resolution 175.
- Ayala acknowledges the importance of HASA's work while expressing concern about reported shortcomings in the program.
Diana Ayala
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Thank you, and good morning, everyone.
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My name is Diana Ayala, and I am the deputy speaker of the New York City Council and the chair of the General Welfare Committee.
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We are here today to hold an important oversight hearing on the administration of the city's HASA program.
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HASA, the city's HIV AIDS Services Administration, was established in 1985 by HRA.
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And now, forty years later, it's it still provides critical case management and assistance to low income New Yorkers who have been diagnosed with HIV.
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HASA served more than 50,000 New Yorkers in 2024.
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HASA clients come from every borough in the city, are referred from some hospitals and CBOs, and receive much needed rental assistance, access to emergency housing, and support to apply for benefits.
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HASA does not it does important work and the communities are troubled by reports of
Jacqueline Dudley
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its
Diana Ayala
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shortcomings.
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According to HRA's own data, HASA has been unable to meet its legally required case ratios once, since the administration the Adams administration took office.
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A hallmark of the HASSA program is the low, case ratios and to that ensure clients can receive intensive case management.
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The population of New Yorkers with an HIV diagnosis is aging, and it remains to be seen whether HAASA is fully prepared to meet their needs.
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In our deeply uncertain political climate and under the presidential admin a presidential administration that rejects science and ignores our most vulnerable communities, New Yorkers will be relying even more on New York City to support and protect them.
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We look forward to hearing from the representatives of the administration about the operations of the HASA program and how they plan to meet the evolving needs of HASA clients.
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We will be hearing a pre considered intro sponsored by chair Shulman, who will discuss her bill further, and a resolution, resolution one seventy five, sponsored by council member Osei in support of s one eighty three, slash a point two four one eight, which would, amend the social services law to mandate each local department of social services link persons living with HIV and with benefits and services and provide that persons living with HIV who are receiving housing assistance shall not be required to pay more than 30% of household income towards shelter costs.
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We thank the administration for joining us today and also thank advocates and individuals who are here today that can speak to their direct experience with HASA.
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I would like to thank the general welfare committee staff who worked hard to prepare this hearing, including Sahar Mozami, assistant deputy director, Nina Rosenberg, policy analyst, Julia Haramas, unit head, of Feria, Roman, a finance analyst, Elizabeth Childers Garcia, finance analyst, Andrisco, data analyst, and finally, my, my staff, Elsie Encarnacion, chief of staff.
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I will now like to turn it over to my co chair for her opening remarks.