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Q&A
Close to Home program funding and budget analysis
3:52:15
ยท
3 min
Council Member Stevens, Commissioner Dannhauser, and Deputy Commissioner Pletnikoff discuss the Close to Home program's funding and budget, including recent changes and current allocations.
- A baseline PEG of $6.8 million was implemented in November 2023 due to underutilization.
- The program started with 301 slots in 2022, was reduced to 135, then increased to 147, and is currently at 174 slots.
- The FY 2025 budget for Close to Home is $63.5 million, with the FY 2026 budget still being determined but currently baselined at the same amount.
Althea V. Stevens
3:52:15
November 2023 plan there was a baseline PEG of 6,800,000 due to underutilization.
3:52:22
That PEG impacted how has that PEG impacted program?
3:52:25
Now that the participation has increased, does ACS need additional slots to close to home?
Jess Dannhauser
3:52:31
So we started in 2022 with about three zero one slots for close to home.
3:52:37
We wanted to make sure that those and there was very few, there's 50 or 60 young people in close to home at that time.
3:52:46
We initially reduced it to 135 for the new RFP.
3:52:50
During the RFP process we noted an additional need for about 12 beds and so OMB supported us to increase it to 147.
3:52:57
They've subsequently supported an additional 27 beds.
3:53:02
So we currently have that 174.
3:53:05
We are in conversations with them.
3:53:07
We're assessing the ongoing need for the census.
3:53:10
We're in conversations with providers.
3:53:12
And so we keep a very, very close eye on this and the track record is there that if we need the capacity we'll develop it.
Althea V. Stevens
3:53:20
Is ACS aware of closed home providers without capacity to take on new youth?
3:53:26
Have any had to put youth on waiting lists?
Jess Dannhauser
3:53:29
No.
3:53:29
Yes we are aware that there are some providers who are at full capacity.
3:53:34
We get the numbers three or four times a day and there are no waiting lists for closed home.
Althea V. Stevens
3:53:43
So if that capacity, what what do we do with the kids then?
Jess Dannhauser
3:53:46
We need to have the capacity and we'll make sure we do.
Althea V. Stevens
3:53:49
How how so?
Jess Dannhauser
3:53:50
So what you're what you're describing, Cher, is that a particular
Althea V. Stevens
3:53:53
No.
3:53:54
I know.
3:53:54
One particular then you'll you'll shift them around and the things because but the point in the close to homes is for them to be close to home and so if we're shifting them to other places and that's kind of defeating some of the purpose, obviously it's not upstate, but it does if you are at capacity let's say in the Queens and you put them in The Bronx, you might as well put them upstate because sometimes it takes two to three hours to get from Queens to The Bronx and so that's what I'm really asking.
3:54:20
Yes, you might find another location but obviously there's some gaps here and this was one of the things that you know we were saying like a year ago when we were saying we were right sizing it and then now we're seeing the numbers go up.
3:54:31
So if you can just talk to us about what does that plan look like a little bit more.
Jess Dannhauser
3:54:34
So we are focused on stability for young people and when a when a group home is is filled, we are not trying to move kids out of there to put other kids behind them.
3:54:46
But I will say it is the system is tighter than it has been.
3:54:51
We are looking at a variety of options.
3:54:54
We have a site that is coming online soon.
3:54:58
We had to do some renovations to that site, and so we'll be able to add those beds soon and we're talking to ONB about other possibilities.
Althea V. Stevens
3:55:08
What is the budget for close to home in fiscal twenty twenty five and in fiscal twenty twenty six in the out in and out years?
Jess Dannhauser
3:55:16
Give me one second.
3:55:24
Go ahead.
3:55:25
The
Margaret Pletnikoff
3:55:29
FY '25 budget is 63,500,000.0.
3:55:33
We are working with OMB to determine the budget for FY '26.
3:55:37
But the current budget
Althea V. Stevens
3:55:42
How much has been spent
Margaret Pletnikoff
3:55:44
here Yeah it's baselined at 63,500,000.0.
Althea V. Stevens
3:55:47
Okay.
3:55:48
What educational opportunities are available to close to home locations?