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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Walter Fendrich, Clinical Director of Libertas Center for Human Rights at Elmhurst Hospital
5:34:40
ยท
3 min
Walter Fendrich, Clinical Director of the Libertas Center for Human Rights at Elmhurst Hospital, testified about their program providing support to immigrant survivors of torture and human rights violations. He emphasized the increasing need for their services, particularly for asylum seekers, and requested discretionary funding from the New York City Council.
- The Libertas Center has seen a significant increase in clients coming via the Mexico border, from 44% in 2022 to 81% in 2024.
- There is a growing need for pro bono legal services, with 25% of intake clients seeking an attorney.
- The center is facing increased challenges, including client crises such as homelessness, food insecurity, and a rise in suicidal ideation.
Walter Fendrich
5:34:40
All right.
5:34:41
Good afternoon.
5:34:43
My name is Walter Fendrick.
5:34:45
I'm a clinical social worker and the clinical director at the Libertas Center for Human Rights at Elmhurst Hospital, which is part of a New York City Health and Hospital Corporation in Jackson Heights, Queens.
5:35:01
Thank you very much for allowing me to provide testimony today.
5:35:07
The Libertas Center for Human Rights is a program providing medical, mental health, social, and legal support to immigrants in New York City who have survived torture and human rights violations in their countries of origin on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, political opinion, or membership in a social group such as age, gender, or LGBTQ identifying people.
5:35:39
All of our clients are survivors of torture.
5:35:42
That's the primary criteria.
5:35:44
But ninety percent of our clients are asylum seekers.
5:35:49
Our mission is to provide integrated services to help survivors heal, regain independence, and restore hope and humanity in their lives.
5:35:59
The Libertas Center is applying for discretionary funding, from the New York City Council to support case management, care coordination, crisis responsive services for immigrant survivors of torture and human rights violations to stabilize physical and psychological health.
5:36:21
Their social well-being and their legal situations also need attention.
5:36:28
New York City Council funding will help prevent client crises.
5:36:34
And there are always crises, a lot more these days.
5:36:40
The crises include homelessness, unpredictable shelter availability, food insecurity, unstable employment and exploitative employment, and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts have increased.
5:36:58
It's always been there, but it's increased a lot since November.
5:37:03
Client referrals to the Libertas Center who have come to The United States via the Mexico border increased from forty four percent in 2022 to sixty six percent in 2023 and eighty one percent in 2024.
5:37:21
These clients are on intake.
5:37:26
Twenty five percent of them are seeking an attorney on intake.
5:37:32
This demonstrates the current scarcity of pro bono law services.
5:37:39
With the city council support, the Libertas Center will be able to respond to the needs of recently arrived asylum seekers.
5:37:48
Thank you very much for your time.