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Q&A
Fair Fares program expansion, implementation, and outreach efforts
2:33:59
ยท
3 min
Council Member Ayala inquires about the Fair Fares program expansion, implementation timeline, and outreach efforts. Commissioner Park and DSS officials provide information on current status and future plans.
- Eligibility expanded to 145% of federal poverty level, effective January 7
- $20.9 million in additional funding for expansion not yet baselined
- Implementation delay due to rule changes and updating federal poverty line definition
- Outreach efforts include social media, community engagement, and planned paid media campaign
- No significant uptick in enrollment yet since expansion
- DSS to follow up with cost estimate for potential expansion to 200% FPL
Diana Ayala
2:33:59
I mean I think one of the creative way to maybe go about it is working with some of the local schools.
2:34:04
I know that we have a couple of pantries located in some of our schools in the South Bronx, maybe one or two, not too many.
2:34:11
Working obviously with the churches and the senior centers.
2:34:16
That way you know you're going straight to the root of the you know community.
2:34:24
Okay.
2:34:32
As we okay.
2:34:33
So as we agreed upon in fiscal year twenty five's adopted budget deal, the eligibility for fair fares was expanded to include those making up to a 45% of the federal poverty level, up from a 20 of the FPL.
2:34:47
This became effective on January 7.
2:34:50
Funding for this expansion was added in fiscal year twenty five only.
2:34:55
10,800,000.0 in new funding and 10,000,000 in unspent funding rolled from prior fiscal years.
2:35:02
As of the preliminary plan, the total budget for Fairfairs for fiscal year twenty five is a hundred and 17,000,000 and drops to 96,300,000.0 in fiscal year twenty six and the out years.
2:35:14
Why did it take more than half of a fiscal year to implement the FPL increase?
2:35:19
And the $20,900,000 in additional funding, which was estimated as the cost to expand the program, has not been baselined.
2:35:27
When will the funding be added to the increased Fair Fares baseline budget?
Molly Wasow Park
2:35:32
With respect to timing of the implementation of the income limit change, we had to make some rule changes.
2:35:39
We also wanted to make sure that we were using the most current definition of the federal poverty line, which is what took the time there.
2:35:49
And then we are coordinating closely with OMB on the budget.
Diana Ayala
2:35:54
Okay.
2:35:57
Can you explain a little bit of the outreach efforts to ensure that everybody that is eligible is aware of the change?
Molly Wasow Park
2:36:04
Absolutely.
2:36:05
We have funding that we are launching an outreach campaign shortly where we'll actually be able to do paid media and otherwise really aggressively get the word out.
2:36:20
But in the meantime, we have been using social media.
2:36:23
I believe we've shared a social media kit with every council member's office.
2:36:27
We're certainly happy to re up that as needed.
2:36:30
But it is And we talk about it in all of our engagement with community groups.
2:36:36
So we do think it's important, have been doing some as I say, been doing outreach already and we'll be really ramping that up very shortly.
Diana Ayala
2:36:45
Okay.
2:36:46
Do you know what the uptake rate has a percentage of those eligible applying for the benefit has HRA seen since the new FPL was implemented?
Molly Wasow Park
2:36:58
We haven't seen much of an uptick yet, but frankly not surprised.
2:37:02
When we increased from 100 to 120, it took several months before we saw a change.
Diana Ayala
2:37:08
Okay.
2:37:08
We would like to see the eligibility continue to expand so that more people in need are able to enroll in this vital program.
2:37:15
What is HRE's estimate for the cost of expanding the program to 200% FPL?
Molly Wasow Park
2:37:24
Don't know if we we don't have that off the top of our heads, but we can certainly follow-up.
Diana Ayala
2:37:29
Thank you.
2:37:31
Okay.