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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director of Korean American Family Service Center, on Federal Funding Cuts Impact
1:25:28
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167 sec
Jeehae Fischer, Executive Director of the Korean American Family Service Center (KFSC), testified about the devastating impact of federal funding cuts on their organization's ability to serve immigrant survivors of gender-based violence. KFSC is projected to lose up to $2 million in federal funding by September 2026, representing 44% of their operating budget.
- KFSC provides critical services including a 24-hour hotline, counseling, legal advocacy, and transitional housing for immigrant survivors of gender-based violence.
- In 2024, KFSC responded to nearly 5,000 hotline calls related to domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse.
- Fischer urged the City Council to increase investment in community-based, culturally specific organizations serving immigrant survivors of gender-based violence to mitigate the impact of these cuts.
Jeehae Fischer
1:25:28
Good morning, Chair Brennan, Chair West Ressler and members of the committee.
1:25:33
My name is GF Fisher and I serve as the executive director of the Korean American Family Service Center, a leading nonprofit organization that has supported immigrant survivors of gender based violence across New York City for over thirty five years.
1:25:49
I'm here today to share our growing concern about the devastating impact of federal funding cuts, specifically the projected loss of our grants from the U.
1:25:59
S.
1:25:59
Department of Justice's Office on Violence Against Women, also known as OVW.
1:26:05
These funds have been critical in supporting CFS' core services, including our twenty four hour hotline, trauma informed counseling, legal advocacy, legal services, economic empowerment, and transitional housing program.
1:26:19
And these programs are very specific to the immigrant survivors of gender based violence, not just all survivors but immigrant survivors of gender based violence.
1:26:29
By the September 2026, KFSE is expected to lose up to $2,000,000 in federal funding.
1:26:38
This represents nearly 44% of our operating budget and has already forced us to freeze key hires and reevaluate essential programming, we're deeply concerned about how we will continue to meet the needs of the 3,000 survivors and families we serve annually.
1:26:58
This moment is defined not only by financial restraint strain but by fear and instability.
1:27:06
As we navigate this uncertainty, the need of our services only continue to grow.
1:27:12
In 2024 alone, KFC responded to nearly 5,000 hotline calls related to domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse, calls that often represent a survivor's first and only attempt to seek help.
1:27:29
These cuts impact immigrant survivors who rely on organizations like KFC for culturally and linguistically specific services.
1:27:38
We urge the city council to recognize this moment for what it is, a crisis for our communities.
1:27:46
We respectfully call on you to increase investment in community based, culturally specific organizations that serve immigrant survivors of gender based violence.
1:27:58
Without this support, organizations like KFC will be forced to scale back, and we already have been scaled back at a time when our communities need us the most.
1:28:09
So we're committed to doing everything we can, but we cannot do this alone.
1:28:14
Thank you for your time.