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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United
3:35:33
ยท
160 sec
Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United (HSU), testified about urgent issues facing homeless service providers in New York City, particularly focusing on payment problems and budget actions. She emphasized the dire financial situation of many providers due to outstanding payments from the city.
- HSU represents over 50 mission-driven homeless service providers in NYC
- A sample of 12 DHS contracted providers have over $170 million in outstanding budget actions dating back to fiscal year 2019
- Some providers are facing insolvency within two months, while others have stopped bidding on DHS contracts due to financial risks
Kristin Miller
3:35:33
Hi, good afternoon.
3:35:35
My name is Kristen Miller and I'm the executive director at Homeless Services United.
3:35:39
I would like to thank the members of the committee for the opportunity to testify today and we'll be submitting a much more detailed written testimony.
3:35:47
But for today's hearing, I will be highlighting some of the most crucial and urgent issues we face.
3:35:52
HSU is a coalition of over 50 mission driven homeless service providers in New York City.
3:35:58
HSU advocates for the expansion of affordable housing and prevention services and for immediate access to safe, decent, emergency, and transitional housing, outreach, and drop in services for homeless New Yorkers.
3:36:12
HSU promotes effective solution to end the crisis of homelessness in New York City.
3:36:17
The fiscal year twenty six budget must take decisive action to rectify payment issues for shelter and homeless service providers.
3:36:26
Our members are together owed hundreds of millions of dollars by the city of New York for work completed on city contracts primarily with DHS.
3:36:36
We are relieved for recent temporary cash flow due to actions the city took to address overdue payments.
3:36:43
The backlog initiative that you brought up earlier moved hundreds of outstanding invoices pending at the Department of Homeless Services alone at the end of calendar year '24.
3:36:54
However, providers still have months and for some years of catch up in pending budget updates and invoice approvals that are prohibiting them from being reimbursed for the services we have already performed and are again in a cash flow crisis.
3:37:10
DHS talked today about some efforts that they're making but I'm afraid it's too little too late.
3:37:16
You've been hearing me testify about this situation for months.
3:37:19
Sadly the problem has become dire.
3:37:22
HSU worked with a sample of 12 DHS contracted providers to assess the outstanding budget actions.
3:37:30
Out of this sample group, these 12 providers, just 12 of our members have over $170,000,000 in outstanding budget actions going back to fiscal year nineteen to current.
3:37:43
Some providers have stopped bidding on DHS contracts because the risk of doing further business with the city is simply too high.
3:37:52
Other providers are now on a timeline for insolvency, for some as soon as two months.
3:37:59
And with that, I just wanna say that we urge you to continue to push for the payments.
3:38:05
We have detailed more in our testimony on outreach and some of the barriers to reduce access to housing.
Adaeze Okoli
3:38:13
Perfect.