Anita Kwok
2:17:24
Thank you, chair thank you, chair Hudson and council members for convening for today's preliminary budget hearing.
2:17:31
My name is Anita Kwok.
2:17:33
I am a policy analyst for United Neighborhood Houses.
2:17:36
UNH is a policy and social change organization representing neighborhood settlement houses that reach over 800,000 New Yorkers from all walks of life.
2:17:44
This year, NYC Aging faces a fiscal cliff of over a hundred million dollars for ending Newark's older adult centers, home delivered meals, case management, and other essential services that support older adults aging in place.
2:17:54
Despite knowing about these cuts for at least a year, the city has failed to restore them, failing to meet the needs of older adults.
2:18:01
The aging services network urgently needs new investments to meet the needs of a growing older adult population and to rectify years of systemic underinvestment.
2:18:10
Amidst federal funding uncertainty, these cuts would be catastrophic, potentially forcing the closure of over one third of older adult centers and severely impacting NORCs.
2:18:19
If centers remain open, they may be forced to scale back services by one third, leaving providers to choose between meals, case assistance, enrichment programs, and other aging services.
2:18:29
UNH members predict an uptake in food insecurity, social isolation, and a loss of access to benefits that extend the lives of older adults.
2:18:37
The city must act now to reverse these cuts including both the fiscal cliff and an out year pet cut to OACs of 13,480,000.00 in fiscal year twenty seven that was in last year's budget.
2:18:47
Furthermore, the city must, one, invest 57,000,000 for congregate meals at OACs to meet inflation since the last RFP.
2:18:56
Foods insecurity among older adults continues to rise, but there has not been an increase to the congregate meals budget in years.
2:19:03
Two, invest 20,600,000.0 to provide a home delivered meal every day operationalizing council member Linda Lee's intro seven seven seven zero to make the city pay for meals seven days a week.
2:19:14
For many homebound adults, the home delivered meals program is the only food that that they're receiving for their nutritional needs, they will stretch that meal to last all day.
2:19:23
Three, invest at least 5,000,000 a year for a revolving capital repair program at NYC Aging.
2:19:29
NYC Aging funded programs often face major difficulties with deteriorating buildings and equipment upkeep.
2:19:35
Systemic wide needs include HVAC repairs, accessibility upgrades, technology systems, kitchen equipment, and more.
2:19:43
Building maintenance, repairs, and upgrades are not covered in NYC Agent contracts, and available funding comes from a confusing range of agencies and pots of money, especially for those programs located in NYCHA facilities.
2:19:54
Four, invest $44,000,000 for the case management program as caseloads have increased, intake coordinators have been eliminated, and providers are seeing higher numbers of older adults with dementia and mental health needs.
2:20:05
And five, grow the Newark City Council initiative to 6.2 millions as Norks provide critical health and social services including case management and nursing support.
2:20:14
Please see my written testimony for more information and thank you for this opportunity.
