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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gabriela Sandoval Requena, Director of Policy and Communications at New Destiny Housing
6:49:19
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126 sec
Gabriela Sandoval Requena from New Destiny Housing testified about the importance of supportive housing for domestic violence survivors in New York City. She highlighted that domestic violence is the primary driver of family homelessness and emphasized the need for city investment in housing solutions for survivors.
- New Destiny Housing is the largest provider of supportive housing for domestic violence survivors in New York State.
- The organization is asking the city to invest in the NYC Fifteen Fifteen reallocation to build more supportive housing for survivors.
- They are also requesting the council to pass and fund Intro 26, which would require training for first responders on domestic violence-related traumatic brain injuries.
Gabriela Sandoval Requena
6:49:19
Good afternoon, Chair Lee, Chair Schulman, and Council Central Staff.
6:49:23
Thank you for holding this budget hearing and for the opportunity to testify on behalf of New Destiny Housing.
6:49:29
My name is Gabriela Sandoval Requena, and I am the director of policy and communications at New Destiny.
6:49:36
We are submitting extended written testimony, so I'm just going to use this time to summarize the key takeaways.
6:49:41
New Destiny is the only organization in New York that's 100% focused on permanent housing solutions for domestic violence survivors.
6:49:50
We are the largest provider of supportive housing for survivors in New York State.
6:49:55
We do this work because domestic violence is the number one driver of family homelessness in New York City.
6:50:02
It actually pushes double the amount of families into shelter than evictions.
6:50:08
And access to safe and affordable homes often determines whether survivors leave their abuser and stay alive.
6:50:15
Abuse has long lasting detrimental effects on the physical and psychological well-being of survivors.
6:50:21
Most people don't know this but survivors can sustain traumatic brain injury more often than football players, yet they're rarely diagnosed.
6:50:30
Supportive housing is one of the safest and most cost effective housing solutions for survivors of domestic violence As the federal government continues to threaten vital housing programs for survivors, this year more than ever we need our city to step up and protect New Yorkers impacted by domestic violence.
6:50:49
We're asking the city to invest in the NYC Fifteen Fifteen reallocation as a supportive housing network of New York proposes by reallocating scattered units into the congregate, organizations like New Destiny will be able to build more supportive housing for domestic violence survivors and more vulnerable New Yorkers.
6:51:08
We're also asking the council to pass and properly fund council member Farias Intro '26, which will require a training program for first responders and an awareness campaign regarding domestic violence related traumatic brain injuries.
6:51:23
Thank you, and I'm happy to answer your questions.