Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
AGENCY TESTIMONY
Conclusion and future vision for veteran services in NYC
0:33:43
ยท
3 min
Commissioner Hendon concludes his testimony by summarizing DVS's mission, strategy, and future plans for serving New York City's veteran community.
- Reiterates DVS's mission to connect, mobilize, and empower the veteran community
- Outlines the agency's strategy for identifying veterans, raising awareness of services, and delivering support
- Acknowledges challenges and progress made since the agency's inception
- Provides contact information and upcoming events for veteran engagement
James Hendon
0:33:43
For perspective, the median number of small dollar council discretionary awards conferred each year from f y twenty sixteen through f y twenty twenty five was 28.
0:33:52
The median aggregate value of those awards in a given year was approximately $206,000.
0:33:58
So 28 awards, $206,000 per year on average.
0:34:02
In conclusion, we're doing everything that we can in what are ever changing and complicated times to identify and deliver resources to our veterans and their loved ones.
0:34:11
The mission as agency begins with the words connect, mobilize, and empower New York City's Veteran community.
0:34:16
Community.
0:34:16
Our strategy can be summarized by the words connect, mobilize, and empower.
0:34:20
Connect is to identify our veterans and know who they are.
0:34:23
Mobilize is to have the veterans recognize us and know who we are and what we deliver.
0:34:28
And power is the act of serving them.
0:34:30
As the smallest department in New York City government, I always tell people that there are 39 people authorized for DVS.
0:34:36
The next largest agency has an authorized strength of 136.
0:34:39
The largest has an authorized strength of 48,876.
0:34:43
We've spent ample time building our offerings, putting together our team, and getting the connect portion of our work right.
0:34:49
As this solidifies, you will soon see a large portion of our efforts touch mobilization.
0:34:54
Pay special attention to when we begin sharing veteran contact information the district level with you as city council members starting this spring.
0:35:02
We will amplify messages tailored, borough wide, and city wide together.
0:35:06
Touches will increase and people will come into the light.
0:35:09
Once mobilization of veterans learning about us has been optimized, we will witness a strong churn in veteran services as we help all our brothers and sisters and their loved ones.
0:35:18
We will empower them.
0:35:19
This is the plan.
0:35:20
There have been several ups and downs and back and forths in this fight, but we're here, and all of us for the most part, including you, are ready.
0:35:28
Things are not gonna be perfect.
0:35:29
However, we will achieve the vision of those veterans who protested outside of city hall more than a decade ago.
0:35:34
We will achieve the vision of the entire veteran community.
0:35:37
Veterans and their loved ones wanted a department in New York City government that would be there for them and do right by them.
0:35:43
We thank the council for enabling us to be here and do these things.
0:35:47
Lastly, recognizing that DVS is eight, going on nine years old, so many people, myself included, wishes we could have snapped a finger to be where we are.
0:35:55
The last new department prior to DBS was created more than two decades before us.
0:35:59
This took trial and error.
0:36:01
It took changes in leadership at all levels, internal and external, and it took partners to help us identify where the services and gaps were.
0:36:07
Thank you to all partners.
0:36:09
Most importantly, it took patience and understanding.
0:36:11
Thank you to the veteran community for being patient with us.
0:36:14
We're building a foundation, offerings, and systems that will ideally stand the wet the test of time.
0:36:19
If you need us, then know that the New York City Department of Veterans Services can be reached at nyc.gov/vets, 2 1 2 4 1 6 5 2 5 zero, connect at veterans dot n y c dot gov and using the social media handle at n y c vets.
0:36:33
Once again, it's nyc.gov/vets, 2 1 2 4 1 6 5 2 5 zero, connect at veterans.nyc.gov and using the social media handle at n y c vets.
0:36:43
Please subscribe to our newsletter at nyc.gov/vet newsletter in order to learn more about our Women Veterans Empowerment Luncheon on Wednesday, April 2, the EDGE Vets Spring Career Workshop on Tuesday, April 15, and the Mets Military and Family Summit on Saturday, May 3.
0:36:58
Thank you.