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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Helen Taylor, Supportive Housing Advocate, on the Importance of Supportive Housing for Formerly Incarcerated Individuals
3:19:20
·
4 min
Helen Taylor, a formerly incarcerated individual, testifies about the transformative impact of supportive housing on her life. She emphasizes the importance of passing Intro 1100 to expand access to supportive housing for people with justice system involvement.
- Taylor shares her personal journey from sleeping in parks to performing Shakespeare in Central Park, crediting her supportive housing and the Fortune Society for this positive change.
- She highlights the comprehensive support provided by supportive housing, including community, personal care, and opportunities for growth and giving back.
- Taylor advocates for making supportive housing more accessible, stating that her story should not be unique and that everyone deserves a life of dignity.
Helen Taylor
3:19:20
Good afternoon, everyone.
3:19:22
I just wanna say how much supportive housing means to me.
3:19:34
Again, good afternoon.
3:19:37
I'm grateful to be here.
3:19:42
I left my apartment, my supportive housing apartment, to be here with you this afternoon, and I want to share why this apartment is so very important to me.
3:20:06
I want to share why other people who who have been incarcerated like myself need to have access to support a housing.
3:20:20
Having my apartment, the very first apartment I have ever had in my life has made a difference in my life today because this is a step closer to fulfilling my mission to live a better life.
3:20:47
It's not just a place to live.
3:20:50
I have a tremendous amount of support in my existence.
3:20:57
My humanity is acknowledged.
3:21:00
I am a part of a community.
3:21:04
There are people that check on me.
3:21:07
My birthdays are celebrated.
3:21:10
When I had the COVID, people went out and bought me groceries plus so much more.
3:21:20
Getting my apartment and working such one with such wonderful people at the Fortune Society allowed me to go from hanging out and sleeping in the park to performing Shakespeare in the Park.
3:21:39
Yes.
3:21:40
That's right.
3:21:41
The creative art department at the Fortune Society connected me with the wonderful people of the public theater.
3:21:52
And the next thing I know, I'm acting on stage at the Delcourt Theatre in Central Park in front of thousands of people watching me every night.
3:22:10
When when not too long before then, I had to sleep and see Gryphons in a public park.
3:22:21
My apartment allow me now to only be in the park when I want to, to perform, to practice, and to to sit on a bench and listen to the birds.
3:22:40
I am grateful for this apartment and the people at the Fortune Society.
3:22:50
You really saved my life, and I am grateful that I am able to reach out and give back to those who are in the situation that I was in.
3:23:08
By advocating for more people to have access to supportive housing, I hope the city council will pass intro 1,100, make sure that this becomes a reality.
3:23:29
My story should not be unique.
3:23:32
I'm certain multiple, everyone everyone should have access to supportive housing, access to the life they want and deserve to live, a life of dignity.
3:23:49
Thank you.
3:23:50
Love is love.