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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Rosalind Black, Citywide Housing Director at Legal Services NYC, on Federal Funding for Legal Services Programs
2:43:14
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3 min
Rosalind Black, representing Legal Services NYC and other legal service providers, testified about the critical role of federally funded legal services programs in New York City, particularly the Right to Counsel (RTC) and Anti-Harassment and Tenant Protection (AHTP) programs. She highlighted the reliance on federal funding for these programs and expressed concerns about potential cuts or changes in federal support.
- A significant portion (30-42%) of funding for RTC comes from federal sources, including TANF block grants
- Recent federal policy shifts and DOJ activities have raised concerns about the sustainability of financial support for legal services
- The Right to Counsel program has been highly effective, with 89% of tenants who have lawyers remaining in their homes
Rosalind Black
2:43:14
Hi.
2:43:14
I'm Rosalyn Black, the citywide housing director at Legal Services NYC, and I'm joined by Philip Duncan, the assistant director of housing at Nimnicht Legal Services.
2:43:21
Thank you for holding this hearing and allowing us to testify on behalf of a group of legal services providers that also includes Brooklyn Legal Services Corp.
2:43:29
A, Housing Conservation Coordinators, Mobilization for Justice, Neighborhood Defender Service, New York Legal Assistance Group, and the Legal Aid Society.
2:43:37
We're here to discuss the important free legal services that we provide to low income New Yorkers under the right to counsel, RTC, and anti harassment and tenant protection programs, that's known as AHTP.
2:43:48
Programs that are administered by the Department of Social Services and rely in large part on federal funding to protect vulnerable New York City residents.
2:43:56
Although precise details of the federal funds used by these programs can be hard to decipher, the city controller's office reported in December of twenty twenty four that 47,000,000 of the hundred $12,000,000, which is 42% that the city uses for access to counsel is paid for with the TANF, Temporary Assistance for Needy Funds Block Grant, funds from the federal government.
2:44:17
In addition, the Office of Civil Justice, federal, FY twenty five budget shows that of the 158,000,000 for the Right to Counsel program, 30% of that comes from the federal government.
2:44:27
And for the AHTP program, 4% comes from the federal government.
2:44:32
The State Controller also noted that 60,000,000 of the money used for Right to Counsel this year is subject to an unspecified federal funding fiscal cliff, meaning that it relies on federal money that is not recurring.
2:44:43
While there have been no specific threats to abolish the TANF block grant yet, during the prior, Trump administration, they were called to reduce it by 10% and it's been flat since 1990 resulting in an effective reduction of 50% spending power.
2:44:57
In addition, recent shifts in federal policy and DOGE activity have raised concerns about the sustainability of financial support for legal services overall.
2:45:07
We're aware of the cuts to legal services for unaccompanied, immigrant children.
2:45:14
We've also may have heard DOJ as of this week has reached out to the Vera Institute and indicated it intends to investigate all non profit providers receiving federal funds.
2:45:25
In addition, it was reported that the Legal Services Corporation, which administers and provides, federal legal services nationally, which makes up 15% of our agency's budget, They were in a meeting with DOGE just this week.
2:45:40
We've people, other people have talked about those federal funds or the stable, funds that allow us to keep our agencies afloat and meet payroll in light of the city's inability to, reimburse us on the monies we spend on the city grants.
2:45:54
A little bit about right to counsel and how important that is to preserve.
2:45:58
Over the last eight years, right to counsel's been well established in New York City Housing Court.
2:46:03
And studies show how effective it is in keeping people in their homes and also reducing the number of eviction filings in the city.
2:46:10
The program has become more effective over time.
2:46:13
This last year, it was reported that 89% of tenants who have lawyers remain in their home.
2:46:19
And that just quickly, it also saves the city money by, I think we're aware, you know, reducing the number of people that end up in shelter programs.
2:46:27
I'm gonna turn it over to my colleague.