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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Barbara Baer, Director of Home Sharing Program at New York Foundation for Senior Citizens
2:29:37
ยท
3 min
Barbara Baer, Director of the Home Sharing Program at New York Foundation for Senior Citizens, testified about the program's impact and funding needs. She highlighted the success of their home sharing and respite care initiatives in helping older adults maintain housing and receive affordable care.
- Requested $250,000 in funding, partly from the speaker's budget and council members
- Emphasized the cost-effectiveness of their programs, with home sharing matches costing less than $8,000 per pair
- Highlighted their respite care program, offering home care at $19.10/hour compared to $30/hour from for-profit providers
Barbara Baer
2:29:37
Good afternoon Chairwoman Hudson.
2:29:40
Barbara Baer.
2:29:41
I'm the director of the New York Foundation for Senior Citizens Home Sharing Program and Respite Care Program.
2:29:49
And rather than just read you these remarks because I think you know about home sharing, I'm gonna just extemporize and just take a few of the facts.
2:30:02
You might have noticed I was called out of the room and the same person called several times, so I thought it must be an emergency.
2:30:11
But to my surprise, it was a person who we had matched who called to say thank you.
2:30:17
So on behalf of that person, all the persons that we've matched, the board of directors and the staff, really thank you to your office and to you for really helping us stay alive and do better.
2:30:31
So we're hoping again that you will help us.
2:30:35
We're asking for $250,000 partly from the speaker's budget and from some of your colleagues.
2:30:42
We did get over $200,000 last year and I hear that because of OMB the budget's gonna be fine this year, so I'm hoping that we will be able to be at least held at what we were.
2:30:57
The home sharing program continues to help people who are really in need across all of the boroughs, and when I looked at the number of matches we made and the people who were on the aging committee, I saw that at least two thirds of the aging committee members had a match, which means that somebody's got a roof over their head who who didn't have one, and a homeowner or apartment renter who was gonna not be able to keep the apartment or perhaps lose the house because of the inflationary costs was able to stay.
2:31:39
And so every time we match, we feel really good about it.
2:31:43
And the gem that we really have is respite care where we offer home care for $19.10 an hour in contrast to the for profits at $30 an hour.
2:31:56
We certify the home health attendant, we interview the client, and for three months they can go serve the client, the client pays.
2:32:06
We'll be doing 150 of them.
2:32:08
Our cost estimates are that we do the respite care on the administrative side for over 500 and then to place two people in a home sharing match.
2:32:21
Costs less the the government less than $8,000 excuse me, and then the people are on their own.
2:32:27
So hopefully you will help us.
2:32:31
We will keep the program growing and growing.
2:32:34
And again, I really thank you for all your help.