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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Brianna McKinney, Chief Advancement Officer of Project Guardianship
5:26:11
ยท
116 sec
Brianna McKinney from Project Guardianship testified about the need for increased investment in nonprofit guardianship services in New York City. She highlighted the organization's work in serving as legal guardians for vulnerable New Yorkers and operating a guardianship helpline.
- Project Guardianship serves as legal guardian for nearly 200 New Yorkers, mostly low-income older adults with complex challenges.
- Their guardianship helpline has received over 1,200 calls since June 2023, primarily from women caregivers.
- McKinney called for deeper city investments in guardianship services for fiscal year 2026, emphasizing that 60% of all guardianship cases originate within the five boroughs.
Brianna McKinney
5:26:11
Can you hear me?
5:26:12
Good afternoon chairs Lee and Schulman and fellow members of the council.
5:26:16
My name is Brianna McKinney and I'm the chief advancement officer at Project Guardianship.
5:26:20
Thank you for your leadership in recognizing the need to invest in nonprofit guardianship services and for lifting up the critical work that we do.
5:26:28
Project Guardianship serves as the legal guardian for nearly 200 New Yorkers in need of surrogate decision making, most of whom are low income older adults facing complex challenges such as housing insecurity, serious mental illness, dementia, and more.
5:26:42
We also run a guardianship helpline where anyone who has a question about article 81 guardianship or its less restrictive alternatives can speak with an expert to get a better understanding of the processes and resources surrounding these issues.
5:26:56
Since launching the helpline in June 2023 we received over 1,200 calls mostly from women caregivers seeking help for loved ones who are also overwhelmingly women.
5:27:07
Guardianship is not only an aging and health issue, it is also a women's issue, an immigration issue, and a housing issue.
5:27:15
We're grateful to this council for passing resolution five sixty one urging the state to fund a public guardianship program in partnership with reputable nonprofit providers.
5:27:23
This is a response to the severe shortage of qualified guardians to serve in cases where a person has no family or friends to serve and no money to pay a private guardian and the devastating outcomes of these shortages.
5:27:35
It is a crucial step forward, but while we advocate for state investment we cannot ignore the reality that 60% of all guardianship cases originate within the five boroughs.
5:27:44
The crisis is here in our city today.
5:27:47
That's why in fiscal twenty six we're calling on the city council to make deeper investments in guardianship services.
5:27:52
With additional support, Project Guardianship can further safeguard vulnerable adults, prevent unnecessary institutionalization, and ensure that every New Yorker in need has access to a qualified person centered guardian.
5:28:04
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to testify testify today.