PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jason Cianciotto, Vice President of Public Policy and External Affairs at GMHC
1:44:04
·
3 min
Jason Cianciotto from GMHC testified in support of legislation to codify HASA eligibility and addressed challenges faced by HASA clients due to Social Security COLA increases. He advocated for increasing the income ceiling for HASA benefits from 200% to 250% of the federal poverty level.
- Expressed support for Chair Schulman's bill T2025-3096 to codify existing HASA practices into law
- Highlighted issues where small increases in Social Security benefits are causing clients to lose HASA housing support
- Mentioned GMHC's support for expanding HASA-like housing support to all New Yorkers living with HIV
- Raised concerns about federal government threats to New Yorkers living with HIV/AIDS
Jason Cianciotto
1:44:04
Good afternoon.
1:44:05
Hi, everyone.
1:44:05
I'm Jason Sianciotto.
1:44:07
My pronouns are he, him.
1:44:08
I'm the vice president of public policy and external affairs at GMHC.
1:44:13
In 2024, GMHC served nearly 5,600 clients, many of whom receive important support from HASA.
1:44:21
Thank you chair Ayala and chair Shulman for this important hearing, and to all the committee members for their longstanding support of New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.
1:44:29
I'm gonna try not to repeat, a lot of the really important and wonderful suggestions that have been shared already.
1:44:35
So I wanna start by expressing GMHC's wholehearted support or, chair Schulman's bill t 2,025 dash 3,096, codifying existing practice into law.
1:44:47
That's a no brainer, but important to ensure that what's happening now remains happening by putting it into, statute.
1:44:56
One of the biggest challenges that our clients who receive, HASSA support are facing are the result of the intersection of, social security cost of living adjustment increases and their HASSA housing support.
1:45:11
I recently, learned about a client who received notification that their HASA housing benefit was, on '28 on December 28 was going to end effective January 8, all because the SSI COLA increase, put them $16.26 above the current, ceiling limit.
1:45:33
Another had their housing support threatened because they were $11 and 86 over the income ceiling limit.
1:45:39
Another $25.16.
1:45:42
Another a dollar, another even 57¢ over limit.
1:45:45
Or you can see where I'm going here.
1:45:47
So TMHC has been in touch with, Otedah, Senator Hoylman, who, led s one eighty three for which, council member Osei's resolution one seven five two zero two four supports.
1:46:03
And, the, end result is agreement that the best way to address this issue for now is to increase the income ceiling from 200 to 250% of the federal poverty level.
1:46:15
Importantly, the, HIV housing for New York plan, advocated by the ending the epidemic coalition of which GMHC is a member, includes that resolution increasing to 250 of FPL.
1:46:30
GMHC strongly supports all New Yorkers living with HIV having access to the same type of housing support that those in New York City do.
1:46:40
So we certainly hope to see that in the, state budget as that comes together, and we appreciate the council's advocacy for that.
1:46:49
Before I run out of time, I want to share, all of our deep concern over the threats the federal government has, made to New Yorkers living with HIV and AIDS.
1:46:58
I wanna thank the council for creating the Protect NYC Families initiative in support of, immigrants, living with HIV, who are served, by many organizations, including JMAHC's legal department.
UNKNOWN
1:47:11
Time has expired.
1:47:12
Thank you.
Jason Cianciotto
1:47:13
I'm done.
1:47:14
Thank you so much.
Diana Ayala
1:47:15
Alright.