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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Janice Holt, Board of Directors member of Central Harlem Senior Citizen Center, on Federal Funding Changes Impact on NYC Seniors
3:08:10
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3 min
Janice Holt, representing the Central Harlem Senior Citizen Center, testified about the potential impact of federal funding changes on New York City's senior services. She emphasized the critical role of federal funding in supporting essential services for seniors and expressed concern about the consequences of potential cuts.
- Highlighted the importance of federal funding for various areas including human services, education, healthcare, and housing
- Warned about the disproportionate effect of funding cuts on vulnerable populations, especially older adults
- Stressed the need to evaluate both short-term and long-term impacts of federal funding changes on seniors who depend heavily on these services
Janice Holt
3:08:10
Good afternoon members of the community committee.
3:08:14
Can you hear me?
Justin Brannan
3:08:15
We can.
Lincoln Restler
3:08:16
We can hear you.
Jeehae Fischer
3:08:17
Yes.
Janice Holt
3:08:17
Okay.
3:08:18
Thank you for the opportunity to testify today about the important issues of federal funding changes and their impact on New York City.
3:08:25
My name is Janice Holt, and I'm on the Central Harlem Senior Citizen Board Of Directors as well as a senior at one of its centers.
3:08:33
I appreciate the chance to speak to you before today and commend your leadership on issues that significantly affect human service organizations in New York City.
3:08:44
Central Harlem Senior Citizen Center is a nonprofit organization with a 2,500,000.0 budget dedicated to enhancing the healthy living of over forty forty five hundred seniors in Harlem.
3:08:57
We achieved this through education, socialization, and advocacy while I also while also working to uphold and affirm their dignity, self worth, and pride in New York City.
3:09:10
Federal funding plays a critical role in the operation of our city's essential services.
3:09:15
Recent developments at the federal level suggest that we may face significant changes changes in the avail availability of these funds.
3:09:24
The constantly shift shifting financial landscape raises concerns about city contracts that involve federal funding, particularly those affecting Central Harlem Senior Citizens Center and the Department for the Aging.
3:09:37
Such changes could have serious consequences for the essential service and overall well-being of our seniors.
3:09:44
It is important to recognize that federal funding supports our city in various areas, including human services, education, health care, housing, transportation.
3:09:53
Any restructuring or reach restructuring or reduction of these funds would jeopardize the programs and services that many adults rely on.
3:10:03
In recent years, fluctuations in federal support have strengthened our city's budget and impacted crucial service.
3:10:10
Currently, the economic landscape in New York City is fragile, particularly as we recover from recent challenges.
3:10:18
Any reduction of federal funding would impede our progress and threaten the stability of our essential programs.
3:10:25
It is vital to examine the areas most at risk, such as community resources including health service, meal support, transportation options, social activities, technology assistance, housing alternatives, financial support, and caregiver resources.
3:10:42
These are crucial for helping senior age in place safely and independently.
3:10:49
We must also consider how these changes will disproportionately affect our vulnerable population, especially our older adults in our city.
3:10:59
I believe that New York State has explored various sources of revenue such as increasing taxes or expanding economic activities.
3:11:06
However, the challenges lies in the timeline and implementation of these alternatives.
3:11:12
The immediate reduction of federal aid has led to has led to significant shortfalls in in these services which cannot be as easily compensated for in the short term by alternative I'm
UNKNOWN
3:11:25
not expired.
Janice Holt
3:11:28
That's
Lincoln Restler
3:11:29
it?
3:11:30
If you wanna wrap up your sentence or if there's one more, you know
Janice Holt
3:11:33
Oh, okay.
3:11:34
Cuts to the federal aid can result in inefficient allocations of the state resources for seniors and negatively impact critical services.
3:11:45
It is essential to evaluate both short term and long term impacts on seniors, especially those who depend heavily on these services.
3:11:52
Thank you again for the opportunity to testify about the important issues of federal funding and their impact on the New York City Seniors.
Lincoln Restler
3:12:01
Thank you so much, miss Halton, for