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letting me speak today in favor of the city of yes.
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I'm Eric Rosenbaum.
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I'm the President and CEO of Project Renewable.
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We're one of New York City's largest homeless service providers.
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We know that stable housing is literally the foundation on which people build resilient families and communities.
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Many of our clients who are unhoused are also struggling with mental illness, substance use disorders, and histories of criminal justice involvement.
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These conditions are themselves often rooted in patterns of unstable housing that stretch back to childhood.
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And I'll note that yesterday, there were 32,968 kids living in a New York City shelter.
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So without equitable access to affordable and supportive housing, our city will continue to face rising mental health concerns, overdose crises, and public safety issues.
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Our extreme shortage of affordable housing has its origins at least as far back as the aftermath of World War 2.
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The GI bill created a generation of homeowners, but also systematically excluded black soldiers and their families.
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The GI bill was just one of the many discriminatory housing practices that created profound inequity that go well beyond housing.
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Urban renewal projects in 19 sixties seventies often led to the displacement of non white and low income communities.
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Gentrification, which still happens to this day, has the same impact.
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And, of course, housing discrimination is no longer legal, but the impact is still disproportionately skewed to people and communities of color.
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This long legacy of housing and equity has resulted in generations of displacement and instability, which are major root causes of the challenges our clients face.
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The city of yes proposals can make a real difference in overhauling zoning regulations and addressing the availability of affordable housing.
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Increasing affordability will reduce homelessness and address this key root cause of generational mental health challenges substitute disorders and criminal justice involvement.
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The alternative is a depressing and ever increasing spiral of spending on shelter, mental health treatment, and jails.
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We applaud the mayor, city planning, and the city council from working to address the housing challenges that impact all of our neighbors.
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With the city of yes, New York City will become more affordable and safer.
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A city where families at all income levels kind
