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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Lee, Director of Public Policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York
2:15:03
ยท
3 min
Eric Lee, representing Volunteers of America Greater New York, testified about their services for veterans and funding requests. He emphasized the importance of city council support given federal funding uncertainties and highlighted their programs for housing, employment, and therapy for veterans.
- Requested renewal and expansion of funding through the veterans community development citywide initiative for FY26
- Supported Intro 29 for training first responders on recognizing traumatic brain injury in domestic violence survivors and veterans
- Endorsed RESO 16 of 02/2024 to increase personal needs allowance for veterans in institutional settings
Eric Lee
2:15:03
Eric.
2:15:05
Hi.
2:15:05
Good afternoon.
2:15:06
Thank you chair Holden and members of the committee for allowing me to testify today.
2:15:10
I'm Eric Lee.
2:15:11
I'm the director of public policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York, a 129 year old anti poverty organization which serves over 750 veterans every year.
2:15:22
We're one of the largest supportive housing providers for veterans in New York City, and we're also proud of her involvement in city's initiative to successfully end chronic homelessness, among veterans.
2:15:32
I will submit written testimony, but I'll summarize that, today.
2:15:37
So thank you chair Holden and members of the committee for and the entire city council for your unwavering leadership and commitment to supporting veterans who served our country.
2:15:46
We're extremely grateful for the council's steadfast support of VOA GNY through the veterans community development citywide initiative, and we're seeking this committee support in our funding renewal request for f y twenty six.
2:16:00
Given the growing uncertainty among in the federal government, which we've heard about today, the funding for the council, which is which provide which is provided by the council for this initiative is even more critical to enriching the lives of the veterans with which we serve.
2:16:17
We use this funding to enhance services for veterans within our citywide VA funded SSVF program as well as veterans housed within our multiple multiple permanent housing supportive sites.
2:16:30
This includes art therapies which you chair Holden championed as an extremely source of therapy for both the mental and emotional well-being of veterans.
2:16:41
Through this initiative, we also connect veterans to employment and training opportunities in high demand fields like transportation, health care, and construction.
2:16:49
We also are seek seeking an expansion of funding this year from 74,000 to a hundred thousand to be able to help veterans cover costs for things related to training and employment, as well as housing placements and basic needs, as well as enriching therapeutic programming, education, and recreational services at our congregate supportive housing sites, which have set asides for veterans.
2:17:13
Mind if I make two more points?
Robert Holden
2:17:14
Go ahead.
2:17:14
Go ahead.
Eric Lee
2:17:15
Thank you.
2:17:16
So thank you chair Holden and and council member nurse for cosponsoring intro 29, and we urge the committee to join in advocating for the passage of this legislation which would provide training for first responders to recognize the signs of traumatic brain injury or TBI in survivors of domestic violence.
2:17:35
Veterans and survivors both disproportionately suffer from TBIs.
2:17:39
And while the US Department of Veteran Affairs does mandatory screenings, there is no comparable screening for survivors.
2:17:47
And wider training and screening would help both populations.
2:17:51
We would also welcome your leadership in prioritizing funding so that first responders in the f y twenty six budget have funding available to train them on TBI, ensuring that they that they have tools needed to save lives.
2:18:03
And my last point is we support veterans and others in institutional settings, and we applaud councilmember Paladino for championing RESO 16 of 02/2024, which would increase the personal needs allowance, putting more money in the pockets of deserving Americans.
2:18:19
Thank you.