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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alice Mo, Public Affairs and Advocacy Associate at Homecrest Community Services, on Funding for Older Adult Services and AAPI Community Support
6:11:58
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Alice Mo from Homecrest Community Services testified about the importance of funding for older adult services and AAPI community support in New York City. She highlighted the potential impact of proposed budget cuts on older adult centers and advocated for increased investments in nutrition, affordable housing, and social services for the growing older adult population.
- Expressed concern over $102 million in proposed cuts to older adult services, which could lead to the closure of up to 60 older adult centers
- Supported a $2.3 billion investment for nutrition, affordable housing, and social services for older adults
- Advocated for expanding the AAPI Community Support Initiative to $7.5 million and allocating funds for the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund
Alice Mo
6:11:58
Good afternoon, Chair Brennan, Deputy Director, IEA, and Council Member Hudson.
6:12:03
My name is Alice Moe, and I am the Public Affairs and Advocacy Associate at Homecrest Community Services.
6:12:09
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
6:12:12
For twenty eight years, Homecrest has been dedicated to providing Southern Brooklyn residents with high quality programs for older adults, youth, and families.
6:12:22
In fiscal year twenty twenty four, we delivered over 92,000 services to fourteen eleven older adults across our three centers, Bensonhurst, Sheepshead Bay, and our Multisocial Services Center.
6:12:35
We offer daily meals, regularly host workshops on mental and physical health, safety, and civic engagement, reaching over 2,100 participants.
6:12:45
We provide a welcoming space where members can engage in activities like tai singing, discussion groups and board games, fostering wellness and community connection.
6:12:56
However, we are deeply concerned about the proposed $102,000,000 cuts to older adult services in the mayor's budget.
6:13:04
These cuts could force the closure of up to 60 older adult centers and severely reduce essential programs even as the older adult population is projected to grow from 20% of New Yorkers today to 25% by 02/1940, yet the Department for the Aging currently receives less than 1% of the city budget.
6:13:24
Instead of cuts, community based organizations need increased funding to expand and strengthen services to meet this growing demand.
6:13:32
As a member of Live On New York, we support a 2,300,000,000.0 investment, 500,000,000 to improve nutrition, including more frequent meals like breakfast at older adult centers, 1,000,000,000 to expand affordable housing and help older New Yorkers manage rising rents and 800,000,000 to enhance social services and community spaces to combat social isolation.
6:13:56
These investments will ensure older adults can remain in their homes and communities and age with dignity and support that they need.
6:14:04
We are also proud members of the Coalition for Asian American Children and Families, CACF, and their 18% and growing campaign which unites over 90 AAPI led organizations across New York City to advocate for a city budget that addresses the needs of vulnerable communities.
6:14:21
We urge your support for expanding the AAPI Community Support Initiative to 7,500,000.0, allocating 7,500,000.0 for the Communities of Color Nonprofit Stabilization Fund and securing 4,000,000 for the access at New York City.
6:14:36
These funds are all critical for organizations like ours that provide culturally responsive services to diverse communities.
6:14:43
We ask the city council not only to protect but to expand funding to meet the needs of older New Yorkers and New Yorkers and underserved communities.
6:14:51
Thank you.
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