Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
Q&A
Progress on DVS vacancies and veteran outreach efforts
0:38:52
ยท
82 sec
Commissioner Hendon provides an update on the Department of Veterans Services' progress in filling vacancies and increasing outreach to veterans in New York City. He highlights improvements in staffing and veteran engagement.
- DVS is close to filling all 39 authorized positions, with 38 currently filled.
- The number of veterans and families served by DVS has increased significantly, from over 1,000 in FY '22 to over 10,000 in FY '24.
- The agency has improved its data on veteran population, identifying about 90,000 veterans out of an estimated 200,000+ in the city.
- Hendon emphasizes the challenge of encouraging self-identification, as it cannot be forced.
James Hendon
0:38:52
the table, mister chair.
0:38:53
You know, as you always say, we can always do more with more to call that out.
0:38:56
For me, it's been the focus on let's get our vacancy let's get our house in order so we can fill the vacancies we currently have.
0:39:02
So we're really excited about getting to 38 out of 39, hopefully getting to 39 out of 39 soon.
0:39:06
And it's different different things I'll say to this.
0:39:09
One is looking at our numbers, you've seen more penetration, know, at the veterans and their families served by DVS went from just over 1,000 FY '22, just over 3,000 FY '23, just over 10,000 FY four, so we've gotten we've starting to get out there more.
0:39:23
Strategically, a lot of our work has been focusing like a laser on knowing who more of our people are.
0:39:28
So step one, let's know who these people are.
0:39:30
So we're so happy to go from less than 5,000 veterans that we know to roughly a 90,000.
0:39:34
And so for us it's knowing who more these folks are.
0:39:37
The other step is going to be sharing information with you as far as all the council members.
0:39:40
If all of us are reaching out between you, us, and our other elected officials that the number of touches will necessitate more people coming in the light because just because you know who someone are, just like everyone here, you know who the people are in your district in theory.
0:39:53
That's not the same thing as getting as many of them to anime.
0:39:55
Those are two different stories.
0:39:57
And so for us step one has been, let's figure out who the people are the 8,300,000 New Yorkers.
0:40:01
Let's find the what we believe to be 200,000 plus who are in this city, and then let's work together, all of us, to continue to ping these folks in the hopes that more of them come into the light.
0:40:10
Like we can't force self identification.
0:40:13
That's the issue.