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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jennifer Hinojosa, Policy Analyst at Community Service Society
5:29:07
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Jennifer Hinojosa, a policy analyst from the Community Service Society, presented findings from their 2024 housing and economic security survey, highlighting challenges in accessing public benefits and the importance of food pantries. She urged the council to increase funding for food security programs and emphasized the critical need for investment in safety net programs.
- 57% of benefit recipients face significant challenges when applying for and receiving benefits, including slow processing times and difficulty navigating applications.
- The preliminary fiscal year 2026 budget includes concerning reductions to food security programs.
- Hinojosa called for increased funding to $100 million for the Community Food Connection and restoration of various food-related initiatives.
Jennifer Hinojosa
5:29:07
Okay.
5:29:08
Thank you, chairperson Ayala, to all the members of the general welfare committee for the opportunity to submit this written testimony.
5:29:15
My name is Jennifer Nejosa.
5:29:17
I'm a policy analyst at the Community Service Society, a long term, long time nonprofit dedicated to improving the lives of low income New Yorkers through research, advocacy, and direct services.
5:29:28
I would like to present, very quickly some highlights from our 2024 housing and economic security survey, which was conducted in the fall of twenty twenty four, related to barriers to accessing public benefits.
5:29:42
We found that nearly three out of five benefit recipients, which is about 57%, face significant challenges when applying for and receiving benefits.
5:29:51
The most site commonly cited obstacles included, the application process was too slow or the, processing times were too long, confusion about eligibility and paperwork requirements, difficulty accessing physical office locations, and lastly, challenges navigating digital applications in online form.
5:30:09
I also like to note that accessing a physical location was a major challenge for our seniors.
5:30:16
And while households that were unable to afford high speed Internet, more likely struggle with online portions of the process.
5:30:24
I'm gonna skip our benefits cliff.
5:30:26
We do have that in my custom running intent testimony section.
5:30:29
And I would like to go straight to the, the role of food pantries.
5:30:34
We know that food pantries are a critical lifeline for New Yorkers facing, food insecurity.
5:30:40
The the preliminary fiscal year twenty six budget includes concerning reductions to central food security programs, such as the community food connection and groceries to go.
5:30:51
So we strongly urge the council to please increase funding to a hundred million for the community food connection, restore, fiscal year twenty five city council initiatives that remain unfunded in a preliminary of, fiscal year twenty six budgets, such as the 8,260,000.00 for food pantries, 2,130,000.00 for access to health food and nutrition
Judith Rosenfeld
5:31:10
Thank you.
5:31:11
Your time has expired.
Jennifer Hinojosa
5:31:13
You have a few seconds.
Molly Wasow Park
5:31:14
Sorry.
5:31:14
You can wrap.
Jennifer Hinojosa
5:31:15
Okay.
5:31:16
One point five for the, food access and benefits initiatives, HRA.
5:31:20
And in conclusion, the city budget, comes at an inflection point.
5:31:25
We can choose to invest heavily in our safety net programs such as expanding benefits, improving delivery experience, and increasing access to assistance for all, or we can ignore the urge urgency of the moment and stand by helplessly as billions of dollars in federal spending cuts inflict unimaginable suffering to our fellow, residents.
5:31:45
Thank you so much for this opportunity to share our findings, and thank you.
Diana Ayala
5:31:49
Thank you.