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Q&A
Common reasons for denials in extenuating circumstances reviews
2:30:07
·
3 min
Officials explain the criteria used in extenuating circumstances reviews, focusing on steps taken by applicants towards independence from the shelter system. They discuss the individualized nature of the review process and the challenges in standardizing assessments.
- Reviews focus on steps taken towards independence, such as applying for ID, enrolling in classes, or job searching
- Each case is reviewed individually, based on a negotiated standard and rubric
- Council Member Avilés expresses concerns about the potential for inconsistent interpretations due to individual discretion in reviews
Alexa Avilés
2:30:07
decision or decision trends that you see, or maybe some of the most common, around denials?
UNKNOWN
2:30:18
The request for an extension of stay in shelter is tied to steps taken by the applicant toward independence from the shelter system.
2:30:29
None of our goals is and I don't think it's the goal of our guests either, to remain in shelter indefinitely.
2:30:35
So one of the things we are evaluating are steps the individual has taken toward independence.
2:30:42
So, for example, applying for an ID NYC, enrolling in English classes, looking for a job, enrolling in a course like the workforce development course, the person you testified earlier mentioned.
2:30:55
Those are all steps towards independence that are granted consideration in an extenuating circumstance evaluation.
Alexa Avilés
2:31:02
And and so how is that how is that assessed?
2:31:04
Or is there, like, a point system with with those, steps?
2:31:09
How is that assessed on what's more valuable than others?
2:31:13
So each of you
Molly Schaeffer
2:31:14
know, we've we've spent a lot of time litigating this with legal aid, and with advocates, so we've gotten approval on this process.
2:31:23
The point of this is a in individual determination of someone's steps taken to, to independence, and we continue running that process as such.
Alexa Avilés
2:31:38
I'm sorry.
2:31:39
So individual determination, I I don't know what to make of that.
2:31:42
Does that mean it's up to the individual who's reviewing
Magdalena Barbosa
2:31:46
There's a roof
Alexa Avilés
2:31:47
that person?
Molly Schaeffer
2:31:48
Yes.
2:31:48
That's exactly right.
2:31:49
And that was a key part of the settlement and a key part of our negotiations with legal aid.
Alexa Avilés
2:31:54
So if I'm having a really grumpy day and I want to, not be the most generous interpreter of people's steps, I could deny them, and that would be fine based on a rubric.
2:32:08
So I guess what I maybe I'm not understanding is it sounds like there's a lot of discretion on interpretation on whether ESL classes versus being able to access an ID NYC.
Molly Schaeffer
2:32:23
So the and so we we monitor both, but the point of this is to have an individualized individualized review of each individual that comes in front of us, but we do that in as, fair way as we possibly can with staff, which gets down to training, which gets down to talking through what kinds of things would, showcase that somebody did something, and ensures that they have brought proof to showcase that.
2:32:54
So it is not about the grumpy interpreter, but I or sorry, the grumpy case reviewer, but it really is about the individual in front of them and what they're saying.
Alexa Avilés
2:33:04
Yeah.
2:33:04
There's 100% each case is very unique, but I think absent a clear rubric, a standard, you can have an infinite number of interpretations around what is more valuable than the next, and that feels utterly problematic.
Molly Schaeffer
2:33:21
So we have a standard and a rubric, which we have negotiated heavily with legal aid, and so that's what I'm gonna keep saying here.
2:33:27
That ways we have a process.
2:33:30
It is also really focused on the individualized, review of the case in front of us.
Alexa Avilés
2:33:37
Got it.
2:33:38
Thank you, for that.
2:33:40
Let's see.
Molly Schaeffer
2:33:44
And I have the list of languages
Alexa Avilés
2:33:46
that we we
Molly Schaeffer
2:33:47
have these notices.
2:33:48
Arabic, Bangla, Chinese traditional, Chinese, simplified, dairy, English, French, Fula, Fulani, Pilar, Georgian, Haitian Creole, Korean, Meninka, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, and Wolof.