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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Alice Mo, Policy and Advocacy Coordinator at Homecrest Community Services
1:22:39
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165 sec
Alice Mo from Homecrest Community Services testifies about the impact of potential federal funding cuts on vulnerable populations in New York City, particularly older adults and immigrant communities. She emphasizes the importance of programs like Medicaid and SNAP, and highlights the critical role of older adult centers in providing essential services.
- Homecrest enrolled 400 individuals in Medicaid and 1,100 in SNAP benefits in 2024
- The organization operates two older adult centers, serving over 110,000 services to 116 older adults
- Federal funding makes up 16% of NYC Aging's total budget, with the majority allocated to older adult centers
Alice Mo
1:22:39
Good morning, Chair Brannan, Chair Ressler, and members of the committees.
1:22:43
My name is Alice Moe, and I am the policy and advocacy coordinator at Homecrest Community Services.
1:22:49
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today.
1:22:52
Shifts in federal funding threatened the programs that safeguard New York City's most vulnerable residents, especially lower income older adults and immigrant communities, including the Asian American population we serve daily across our four centers in Brooklyn.
1:23:06
At HomeCrest, we see the life changing of federal programs every day.
1:23:11
In calendar year 2024, we enrolled 400 individuals in Medicaid and 1,100 in SNAP benefits.
1:23:19
Recently, we have seen an increase in clients due to SNAP theft with many coming in to us seeking guidance on how to protect their EBT cards from being stolen and pursue reimbursement for stolen benefits underscoring just how vital these programs are to daily survival.
1:23:37
We are equally concerned about how federal funding cuts would affect older adult services.
1:23:42
Homecrest operates two older adult centers funded in part by NYC Aging.
1:23:47
In 2024, we served over 110,000 services.
1:23:52
We delivered over 110,000 services to over 116 older adults.
1:23:58
Our centers offer more than just daily nutritious meals.
1:24:01
They offer a trusted and culturally responsive space that for many adults is the only place they like to go outside their homes.
1:24:09
Here they can receive assistance with health care and affordable housing applications, access case management all in their preferred language.
1:24:17
This is especially critical as seventy two percent of older Asian New Yorkers have limited English proficiency.
1:24:23
For fiscal year 2025, federal funding makes up 16% of NYC Aging's total budget, with the majority allocated to older adult centers.
1:24:31
Combined with the proposed $100,000,000 in cuts in the Mayor's preliminary budget to an agency that has historically received less than one percent of the city's budget even as older adults now represent 20% of the population.
1:24:45
This puts centers like ours at serious risk of closure.
1:24:49
In light of these challenges, we respectfully urge the City Council to protect the City's social safety net by first prioritizing sustained investments in AAPI community based organizations that serve New York City's older adult and immigrant populations, thereby shielding life sustaining programs from federal instability.
1:25:08
Second, strengthening partnerships with trusted providers who have the cultural competence to meet local needs.
1:25:15
And third, advocating decisively in response to federal shifts to protect and uphold the city's priorities.
1:25:21
Thank you for your leadership and for the opportunity to testify today.