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Q&A
Council member raises concerns about Home Base responsiveness
1:40:30
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114 sec
Council Member Rita C. Joseph expresses concerns about the slow responsiveness and poor customer service of Home Base, citing a specific case of a constituent who was illegally evicted and unable to meet with anyone at Home Base. Commissioner Molly Wasow Park acknowledges the issue and commits to following up on the specific case.
- Home Base providers are facing increased demands, impacting their ability to respond quickly
- The department is considering what tasks can be brought back in-house to allow Home Base to focus on core mission
- Commissioner acknowledges the need for potential staffing increases and will consult with OMB
Rita C. Joseph
1:40:30
Thank you, chair.
1:40:32
Just wanna talk about a couple of things, Pheps.
1:40:35
I have a constituent in my district who's been trying to contact home base and that his own landlord illegally evicted him, right, And still receiving city feps.
1:40:46
And he's been unable to meet with anyone at home base.
1:40:49
Our constituents consistently miss housing opportunity due to slow home base responsive, poor customer service.
1:40:57
Can you give me an idea how you plan to improve?
1:40:59
We know there's an increase so definitely you need more hands or head count at the agency.
1:41:05
New needs, absolutely new needs.
1:41:08
We reached out to home based to let them know he was illegally evicted on February 3.
1:41:14
We did not get a response from home base until March 7.
1:41:18
Talk to me commissioner please.
Molly Wasow Park
1:41:20
Absolutely.
1:41:21
So let me start by saying that's not acceptable.
Rita C. Joseph
1:41:24
Unacceptable and that's why I'm here.
Molly Wasow Park
1:41:25
We will follow-up with you separately about the specific client on the larger issue of home based capacity.
1:41:34
We certainly know that there have been a lot of demands put on home based and that has impacted
Rita C. Joseph
1:41:39
There's been a lot of high turnovers as well.
1:41:41
A lot of staff are leaving so that also should signal, as we mentioned, new needs, new head count.
1:41:47
Go ahead.
Molly Wasow Park
1:41:48
Thank you councilmember.
1:41:49
So we are aware that the home based providers are terrific not for profit organizations, but there have been a lot of demands put on them.
1:41:58
So I think one of the things that we're really focused on is what can we pull back in house so that they can focus back on their core mission and certainly hear your feedback about needs and we will consult with OMB on that.
1:42:11
And Administrator French, anything you want to add?
Scott French
1:42:14
No, think you covered it, but we'll follow-up with you directly about that specific case so that we can talk to that home based provider to make it clear that is not an acceptable way in which to engage with the community.