Richard Soohoo
2:52:01
Thank you chair banks and members of the public housing committee for the opportunity to testify.
2:52:06
My name is Richard Suhu and I am the tenant services coordinator at 64 Norfolk HDFC at the Chinese American Planning Council, CPC, the nation's largest Asian American social service organization.
2:52:19
In one square block of New York City in the Lower East Side, CPC has 350 units of affordable housing with 265 of those units being earmarked for seniors with 58 of those units set aside for the formerly unhoused.
2:52:33
I want to share a story of one of our residents.
2:52:36
KJ incarcerated in 1973 and released in 02/2001 has struggled with unstable housing and relies on a loose support system of friends and family though they have been in and out of shelters themselves.
2:52:48
He resides in a housing unit for the formerly unhoused at 64 Norfolk but has faced several health setbacks including hospitalizations for high blood pressure and diabetes.
2:52:58
KJ has an expired state ID which led to the expiration of his housing subsidy during a city theft recertification.
2:53:06
Additionally, he was unaware of over $800 in late fees and legal charges which had been sent to collections and had also fallen behind in a con Edison bill.
2:53:16
With assistance from his case manager at CPC, his subsidy has been renewed a payment plan for the utility setup and the arrears are being addressed through an h r a one shot deal.
2:53:27
Our communities heavily rely on housing assistance services, the ones that we provide.
2:53:33
However, our communities deserve a city where housing is afforded to every New Yorker.
2:53:38
We urge the city to invest in more affordable housing which includes expanding city FEPS eligibility.
2:53:43
We must have a housing we must have housing that is inclusive of seniors with social services and health care provided that is local and accessible to our communities.
2:53:52
Thank you for your time.
