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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Joelle Ballam-Schwan, Director of Programs and Engagement at Supportive Housing Network of New York
5:13:56
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123 sec
Joelle Ballam-Schwan from the Supportive Housing Network of New York testifies on funding proposals for supportive housing, addressing late contract payments, and maintaining housing capital funding levels. She emphasizes the critical nature of their funding requests and the risks faced by supportive housing providers due to payment delays.
- Proposes reallocation of NYC Fifteen Fifteen funds, requesting $307 million in capital for congregate units and $72.6 million for services and operations
- Highlights concerns about $318 million in late payments to five large supportive housing providers, risking closure and housing instability
- Advocates for continued baseline funding of $4 billion in housing capital post-2026, and additional funding for specific programs like JISH, BeHEARD teams, and IMT teams
Joelle Ballam-Schwan
5:13:56
Good afternoon chair.
5:13:58
Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today.
5:14:00
My name is Joelle Balamchwan.
5:14:01
I'm with the Supportive Housing Network of New York and just wanna thank our incredible tenant advocates who really underscored the critical nature of our funding asks, so thank you.
5:14:13
We wanna thank the council for support of our NYC Fifteen Fifteen reallocation proposal, and we ask that you work with us to codify and fund it in FY '26 and beyond.
5:14:24
The city has exceeded its 7,500 unit target for congregate housing, but scattered site has fewer than 1,500 units unawarded leaving over 6,000 units left untapped.
5:14:37
So our proposal calls for reallocating majority of these units to develop and preserve congregate supportive housing and we are seeking 307,000,000 in capital to develop and preserve congregate units and 72,600,000.0 for the service and operating for both new and existing units.
5:14:54
We also ask the council to hold the administration accountable for late contract payments, as federal funding remains uncertain and paused for many providers.
5:15:04
The urgency cannot be overstated right now.
5:15:07
Five of our largest supportive housing providers are owed over 318,000,000 in late payments.
5:15:12
The funding gap puts providers at risk of closure, jeopardizing housing stability for folks who formerly experienced homelessness.
5:15:20
Additionally, the network joins housing advocates in voicing our concern about a significant decrease in housing capital funding post 2026 proposed in the preliminary budget and recommend a continuing a baseline funding level of 4,000,000,000 in housing capital.
5:15:34
And finally, we ask the council to continue supporting 4,800,000.0 in additional funding for the justice involved supportive housing program, JISH, four point five million in baseline funding for peer responders on BeHEARD teams to ensure compassionate community driven support for individuals in crisis, and 22,000,000 for intensive mobile treatment, IMT teams to provide care for the wait list of people seeking vital mental health support.
5:15:58
Thank you so much.