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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Amy Hozer-Weber, Director of Civil Practice at Veteran Advocacy Project
1:04:36
·
4 min
Amy Hozer-Weber from the Veteran Advocacy Project testified on the NYC Department of Veterans Services (DVS) report card, emphasizing the need for increased staffing and budget to improve service delivery. She highlighted concerns about the efficiency of DVS's current structure and suggested ways to enhance veteran support, particularly in claims assistance and housing services.
- Hozer-Weber recommended separating DVS caseworker responsibilities into claims and communications to improve efficiency.
- She stressed the importance of clear communication about available resources and eligibility criteria for veterans.
- The testimony emphasized the need for transparency in DVS operations and adequate resources to fulfill its mandates.
Amy Hozer-Weber
1:04:36
Good afternoon.
1:04:38
Good afternoon, chair Holden and the other members of the committee on veterans.
1:04:42
My name is Amy Hoser Weber, and I am the director of the civil practice at the veteran advocacy project.
1:04:49
VAP ensures access to health care, housing, and income for low income veterans and their families with a focus on those living with post traumatic stress, brain injury, substance dependency, and other mental health conditions.
1:05:02
I am happy to testify today regarding speaker Adams state of the city report card for the Department of Veterans Services.
1:05:08
As the committee, DVS, and the community move forward with an idea of DVS two point o, I would like to highlight the priorities VAP believes will ensure New York City's Veterans and their families can thrive.
1:05:20
The report highlights that only 33% of the workforce capacity for DBS is dedicated to service delivery.
1:05:28
The direct services provided to veterans and their families is at the heart of the agency's mandate, yet according to the report, only a third of the staff has assisting clients as part of their job description.
1:05:39
Five DBS employees are assigned to the veteran support services unit.
1:05:43
These staff members work on VA claims and provide information to veterans, including referrals to mental health services.
1:05:50
According to the report, the unit also, quote, serves as a primary interface with clients end quote.
1:05:56
These case workers will also be responsible for fill it for fulfilling other proposed council initiatives that aim to increase DVS's presence in each of the 51 districts.
1:06:06
The report card highlights that the veteran support services casework are spread thin, which has raised concerns over the quality of DVS' services and the continuing ability of the department to keep up the demand for claims assistance.
1:06:17
Given all that these caseworkers are taking on, it is difficult to understand how they have the time to work on claims, which require reviewing records, gathering evidence, and presenting it in a way that obtains the highest disability rating for a veteran.
1:06:30
The fact that the same individuals are doing extensive outreach and making referrals serving as the primary responders on mental health requests raise questions about how well these tasks can be accomplished.
1:06:40
The speaker's report also notes that DBS has lowered target numbers for mental health referrals due to changes in mental health screening.
1:06:47
The city has engaged in a partnership with New York Cares which runs Mission VetCheck where volunteers make calls to veterans for whom the city has phone numbers.
1:06:55
The volunteers are provided one page of preapproved resources and NYC Nine Eight Eight, New York's webpage for the national crisis line, is the one listing for mental Reportedly, DBS has no other plan to create coordinated efforts on mental health services.
1:07:09
In order to set DBS staff up for success, VAP urges the council to expand the department's budget so they can hire more positions providing services.
1:07:18
To improve the efficiency and strengthen the efficacy of DVS caseworkers, the current responsibility of the veteran support services team should be separated into two distinct areas, claims and communications.
1:07:30
With casework caseworkers solely dedicated to concentrated areas, DBS would be better able to serve the needs of the community, including overwhelming demand for claims assistance.
1:07:38
Historically, improving Thank you.
1:07:42
Improving veterans housing stability has been one of the strongest programs at DBS.
1:07:47
Federal funding cuts are threatening New York City housing providers and the work of housing advocates.
1:07:52
As the report card states, comprehensive and accessible support must be available to veterans to find and successfully secure housing.
1:08:01
While DBS works closely with DHS and other stakeholders, the report highlighted that veterans have expressed frustration over how difficult it can be to communicate with the agency.
1:08:11
This may be in part because what DBS can provide to veterans is not always clear.
1:08:15
Is DBS paying brokers fees, rent?
1:08:18
What criteria do the veterans need to meet to obtain these funds?
1:08:22
Other places in the report reference misaligned expectations and this may apply to housing services.
1:08:28
Providing detailed information not only about the type of help available, but about who qualifies for these services would improve veterans expectations and advocates ability to make appropriate referrals.
1:08:38
Improve communication about specific resources was a theme repeated throughout the report.
1:08:42
The primary purpose of DVS is to be a connector of veterans and the resources they have earned.
1:08:49
The DVS website has many categories and tabs and drop down lists that can be overwhelming and difficult to get concrete information unless you fill out a VetConnect form.
1:08:58
There are also links with pages about programs with little information.
1:09:01
As programs evolved, it could be challenging to ascertain what is currently available.
1:09:06
That believes that the council and department need to have a transparent conversations about what DBS is doing, should be doing, and can do.
1:09:14
As a community, we need to provide the resources necessary for the agency to accomplish the initiatives we have asked them to do.
1:09:21
Veterans must have trust in the agency that was created to serve them.
1:09:24
Thank you.
Robert F. Holden
1:09:25
Thank you, Amy.