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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Bill Flynn, Director of Legal Services NYC, on Intro 1148
3:49:25
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152 sec
Bill Flynn, Director of multiple units at Legal Services NYC, testified in support of Intro 1148, which aims to improve the application process for social services. He highlighted how the bill would benefit vulnerable clients who often face challenges in obtaining assistance due to administrative errors.
- Flynn shared a case example of a disabled veteran who was wrongly denied rental assistance adjustment due to claims of missing documentation.
- He emphasized that the proposed bill would help clients navigate the complex systems of social services more effectively.
- Flynn encouraged council members to refer their constituents to Legal Services NYC for assistance with these issues.
Bill Flynn
3:49:25
afternoon.
3:49:26
Can you hear me?
Diana Ayala
3:49:27
Yes.
3:49:27
Oh,
Bill Flynn
3:49:28
great.
3:49:29
Okay.
3:49:29
Thank you.
3:49:30
I know it's been a long day.
3:49:32
Chairperson and deputy speaker Ayala and members of the general werefull committee, thanks for opportunity.
3:49:38
I'll be really brief.
3:49:39
My name is Bill Flynn.
3:49:41
I'm the director of government benefits unit, the disability advocacy unit, the LGBTQ plus HIV advocacy project, and our Veterans Justice Project at Legal Services NYC in our Queen's Office.
3:49:56
I'm here today to speak to INT eleven forty eight, introduced to this body in December by council member Kavan, and how it will benefit and help our most vulnerable clients and your constituents.
3:50:09
The units I supervise intersect disproportionately impoverished communities we both serve.
3:50:16
We at Legal Services NYC are very encouraged by the amendments offered by council member Caban's bill.
3:50:22
Too many times we meet clients who seek our help, who have been denied services from the Department of Social Services and or HRA sometimes multiple times for failure to provide the information documents needed to complete an application for services only to to discover that the client had provided the requested information numerous times, delaying the much needed assistance that our clients and your constituents are seeking to help with in the first place.
3:50:52
We've requested fair hearings to appeal these such decisions.
3:50:56
On a recent case where I represented a veteran living with a disability who had lost a part time employment just needed to adjust the income with HRA to adjust the rental assistance he would be entitled to going forward.
3:51:08
He was denied two times for not providing the requested information to adjust his rental assistance.
3:51:15
He came to LSNYC.
3:51:17
We requested an expedited fair hearing because of the delay was putting his housing in jeopardy.
3:51:23
The agency sent me an evidence packet prior to the hearing, which contained all the documents, not surprisingly.
Scott French
3:51:32
Your time has expired.
Bill Flynn
3:51:43
As it will help our clients and navigating these systems and I encourage you to refer your clients to our agency assistance in navigating these clients as well.
3:51:57
Thank you.
Diana Ayala
3:51:58
Thank you.