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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Hailey Nolasco, Senior Director of Government Relations at Center for Justice Innovation
3:35:53
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101 sec
Hailey Nolasco from the Center for Justice Innovation testified about the critical role of nonprofits in New York City's economy and social services, highlighting the severe financial strain caused by delayed city payments. She emphasized the urgent need for resolving payment delays to ensure nonprofits can continue their vital work.
- Nonprofits contribute $78 billion annually to NYC's economy and employ one in five New Yorkers, predominantly women and people of color.
- The Center for Justice Innovation is currently waiting on $38 million in delayed payments from the city, forcing them to pay $400,000 in interest in 2022 alone.
- Delayed payments are forcing nonprofits to take out loans, with 68 organizations owed $385 million, accruing $6 million in interest across the sector.
Hailey Nolasco
3:35:53
Good afternoon Chair Stevens and Juan.
3:35:56
My name is Haley Nolasco and I'm the senior director of government relations at the Center for Justice Innovation.
3:36:01
Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today.
3:36:04
Non profit and human services organizations are the backbone of our city.
3:36:07
With 13,000 nonprofits contributing nearly 78,000,000,000 annually to the local economy and employing nearly one in five New Yorkers, most of whom are women and people of color.
3:36:17
This sector not only empowers our economy but also advances equity in communities too often left behind.
3:36:23
In The Bronx alone, over a third of residents work in nonprofits.
3:36:26
These workers keep our hospitals, schools, courts, and family services running forming the heart of our social safety net.
3:36:32
Yet we're in crisis.
3:36:33
According to the Human Services Council which I believe just testified earlier, 68 nonprofits with over a thousand city contracts are owed 385,000,000 due to delayed payments.
3:36:44
Nearly half have had to take out loans totaling over 87,000,000 accruing to 6,000,000 in interest.
3:36:49
Money that could have been going to serve our communities and needs and not and not banks.
3:36:54
The Center for Justice Innovation is no is no exception to that.
3:36:57
We are currently waiting on approximately 38,000,000 from the city.
3:37:00
That's money already spent on grants to local businesses, youth stipends, case management for thousands of for thousands in supervised release and diversion programs, and violence intervention and prevention services.
3:37:12
In 2022 we paid 400,000 in interest alone, significant funds that again could have gone directly to our communities.
3:37:18
At a time when critical funding is also at risk, we must resolve the city issue of delayed payments.
3:37:23
Nonprofits need timely reimbursement to fulfill our missions, delayed delays forced cuts, stressed staff, and compromised care for those who need it the most.
3:37:31
Thank you both so much for your leadership and addressing this important issue.
3:37:34
Thank you.