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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Eric Lee, Director of Public Policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York
3:01:32
·
3 min
Eric Lee from Volunteers of America Greater New York (VOAGNY) testified about improving access to affordable housing and the Housing Connect system. He highlighted VOAGNY's recent affordable housing projects and emphasized the need to maximize the use of every affordable housing unit in the city.
- Supported HPD's one-year waiver for re-rentals and called for more frequent training and faster approvals for marketing agents
- Endorsed Intro 1265 for email/text notifications and Intro 1266 for in-person assistance with Housing Connect applications
- Stressed the importance of making the affordable housing process more equitable while ensuring Housing Connect can effectively achieve this goal
Eric Lee
3:01:32
It's okay.
3:01:33
But yes.
3:01:35
Thank you, chair Sanchez and members of the committee for allowing me to testify today.
3:01:39
I'm Eric Lee.
3:01:40
I'm the director of public policy at Volunteers of America Greater New York or VOAGNY for short.
3:01:48
I will submit written testimony following the hearing.
3:01:51
We greatly appreciate the committee for holding today's hearing on improving access to affordable housing and the Housing Connect system.
3:01:59
My organization, VOA GNY, is one of the largest human services providers in the region and an active developer of affordable and supportive housing.
3:02:09
We are extremely proud of two of two of our most recent projects in The Bronx, including East Clark Place Senior residence, is newly renovated in the, Jerome Avenue Highbridge Concourse neighborhood in The Bronx, as well as our YP senior residents, is actually in your district, chair Sanchez.
3:02:28
We would love to have you come visit.
3:02:30
We are currently just beginning to start moving tenants in.
3:02:35
When we finish, we will be fully occupied with a 17 low income seniors, including 37 formerly homeless senior households.
3:02:46
Affordable housing is extremely limited as we've heard today.
3:02:49
It's an extremely precious resource and we must do everything we can to maximize use of every single unit within the city given the overwhelming need.
3:02:58
We understand the council and the administration shared goal of making affordable housing process more equitable, But until the city can ensure that Housing Connect is positioned to effectively achieve this goal, the city must continue to use more flexible options like the one year waiver which HPD implemented to more quickly match qualified candidates to affordable housing.
3:03:20
VOA GNY staff are currently being trained by HPD to become qualified marketing agents to gain access to Housing Connect.
3:03:28
However, the training process and the approval process for prospective agents can take well over half a year to complete.
3:03:34
We welcome the committee's support in prioritizing additional funding for HPD.
3:03:39
Sorry.
3:03:39
Do you mind if I wrap up?
3:03:41
Thank you.
3:03:43
So we appreciate the committee's support in prioritizing additional support for HPD to both increase the frequency of the scheduled trainings for marketing agents, because we heard there's only 63 citywide currently, as well as shorten the time frame to approve them once they go through the training process.
3:03:59
More frequent trainings and faster approvals means that, there's more hands to do the work.
3:04:05
It would allow us to be able to list and lease up our own units.
3:04:09
This is especially important for re rentals because at any given time, there's a very few number of units within our entire portfolio that are being turned over and it's just simply not cost effective to hire a third party to do the re rentals as marketing agents.
3:04:24
We imagine more providers would also want to do this themselves given the HPD's stance to move towards Housing Connect as the main way to do re rentals in post April 2026.
3:04:37
With regards to the legislation heard today, VOA GNY supports twelve sixty five to require email or text notifications.
3:04:45
This can be especially helpful for shelter residents as our case managers or housing specialists could help track pending documentation requests.
3:04:54
We know that our clients often have many things that are time intensive, including full time jobs, and being able to have active eyes on this is really helpful to make sure their application does not stall.
3:05:06
And we also support Intro twelve sixty six to require in person assistance from HPD in the community.
3:05:14
Elderly and low income households have very limited access or familiarity with the online platform, and we recognize bringing the services to them in the communities they need can make sure that it's not a barrier to them.
3:05:26
Thank you.