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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gina Cappuccitti, Senior Director of Housing Access and Stability Services at New Destiny Housing
1:55:01
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132 sec
Gina Cappuccitti from New Destiny Housing testified about the impact of federal funding cuts on housing programs for domestic violence survivors in New York City. She highlighted the importance of their rapid rehousing programs and expressed concerns about the ending of the emergency housing vouchers program.
- New Destiny Housing is the only organization in NYC focused on permanent housing for domestic violence survivors, serving over 300 households through two rapid rehousing programs.
- The organization is worried about potential staffing cuts at HUD affecting the management of their Continuum of Care (COC) contracts.
- Nearly 8,000 households in NYC, including 1,700 domestic violence survivors, depend on the emergency housing vouchers (EHV) program, which is set to end this year.
Gina Cappuccitti
1:55:01
Good afternoon, chair Braden, chair Ressler, and consul central staff.
1:55:05
Thank you for holding this hearing and for the opportunity to testify on behalf of New Destiny Housing.
1:55:10
My name is Gina Capuchiti, and I'm the senior director of housing access and stability services at New Destiny.
1:55:16
New Destiny is the only organization in New York City that's a % focused on permanent housing for survivors of domestic violence.
1:55:24
We do this work because domestic violence is the number one cause of family homelessness in our city.
1:55:29
And for survivors, housing is a matter of life and death.
1:55:32
Yet the federal government is threatening vital housing programs for survivors.
1:55:36
In 2039, New Destiny implemented the first federally funded rapid rehousing program for survivors in New York City, HousingLink.
1:55:43
In 2022, New Destiny added a second rapid rehousing program dedicated to survivors with housing vouchers.
1:55:49
At any given time, we are serving over 300 households experiencing domestic violence across these two contracts.
1:55:57
These programs are funded by HUD via the New York City Continuum of Care, or COC, providing survivors with housing navigation services, temporary rental assistance, and supportive services to promote long term housing stability.
1:56:09
Like other COC programs, New Destiny's rapid rehousing programs are a lifeline for survivors.
1:56:14
So we are concerned about the future of these contracts and HUD's ability to manage these contracts if the proposed staffing cuts are effectuated.
1:56:22
New Destiny is also deeply concerned with ending of the emergency housing vouchers or EHV.
1:56:27
The federal government notified agencies in March that funding for the program is ending this year.
1:56:33
Nearly 8,000 households in New York depend on this vital housing resource, including nearly 1,700 domestic violence survivors.
1:56:40
New Destiny housed nearly half of these survivors.
1:56:43
And since then, we maintained contact through our aftercare services.
1:56:47
And we know these, survivors, and many others who are vulnerable will return to homelessness or to abusive partners if they are to lose their voucher too soon.
1:56:58
While we are pushing for Congress to allocate federal funding to sustain the HB program into 2026 and years later, HPD and NHM must plan for contingencies to ensure these New Yorkers remain stably housed.
1:57:11
Thank you, and I'm happy to answer your questions.