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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Marcus Jackson, Age Friendly Community Organizer at Encore Community Services
2:02:09
ยท
127 sec
Marcus Jackson from Encore Community Services testifies about the importance of affordability for older New Yorkers and the services his organization provides. He urges the city council to protect and expand funding for NYC aging services, invest in the aging services workforce, and prioritize affordability through various support programs.
- Encore Community Services has been serving older New Yorkers for nearly 50 years, providing meals, housing, and social connections.
- Jackson highlights the need for increased city investment in services like financial case management, meal delivery, and age-friendly community initiatives.
- He recommends three specific actions for the city council: protect/expand NYC aging funding, invest in the aging services workforce and family caregivers, and prioritize affordability through various support programs.
Marcus Jackson
2:02:09
Good afternoon, chair Hudson, members of the committee.
2:02:12
My name is Marcus Jackson.
2:02:13
I'm the age friendly community organizer with Encore Community Services.
2:02:17
I would like to thank you for the opportunity for speaking today.
2:02:21
Encore has been serving older New Yorkers for nearly fifty years and every day we see how affordability determines whether older adults can age with dignity or face instability.
2:02:32
At our Aging Through Art Center and through our home delivered meals program, we support thousands of older adults with meals, housing, and connections.
2:02:41
I'm here today to talk about affordability on fixed incomes.
2:02:44
As a part of my work, I partner with local businesses to create more age friendly city, recruiting them to offer discounts and other special benefits for older adults within our community to help stretch limited incomes and foster community connections.
2:02:59
Oncor's financial case management team help older New Yorkers apply for snap, scree, rental assistance, fight medical billing issues, avoid eviction.
2:03:09
These are lifelines especially for older adults living in fixed incomes.
2:03:14
But the need continues to grow so the city's investment in these services also needs to grow.
2:03:19
We also deliver over 750,000 meals a year including to those who are homebound.
2:03:26
For many, that meal is the only meal they receive for the entire day.
2:03:32
We can and we should do more to ensure no older adult goes hungry, offering three nutritious meals per day, seven days per week.
2:03:39
We urge the city council to do three things in this budget.
2:03:44
The first is to protect and expand funding for NYC aging.
2:03:48
This is not a place for cuts.
2:03:51
The second would be to invest in aging services, workforce, and family caregivers.
2:03:56
These are the people holding up our system and they need to be paid and supported like they are.
2:04:00
And lastly, to prioritize affordability through case management, housing support, food access, and community based solutions that meet older adults where they are.
2:04:11
I'll share more details in the written testimony I submitted today and I appreciate you guys for the time.
Crystal Hudson
2:04:16
Thank you so much.