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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kate Connolly, Senior Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses
4:15:57
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93 sec
Kate Connolly, representing United Neighborhood Houses, testified about the significant issue of late payments to human service providers in New York City. She highlighted the scale of the problem and its impact on nonprofit organizations and their ability to deliver services.
- The city owes over $90 million to just 16 members of United Neighborhood Houses
- Some providers are owed between $15 and $32 million for services already provided
- Late payments are affecting payroll, program delivery, and causing stress for staff and community members
- The announced advances are not solving the problem, with some providers resorting to using the returnable grant fund as a stopgap measure
Kate Connolly
4:15:57
and thank you for the opportunity to testify.
4:15:58
My name is Kate Connolly, and I am a senior policy analyst for United Neighborhood Houses, an umbrella organization that represents settlement houses across New York State.
4:16:07
We'll submit a more detailed written testimony, but I'll use my time to comment on what we've today.
4:16:12
First, we appreciate that multiple agencies are working on the issue of late payments every day.
4:16:16
However, despite recognition that this is a major issue, the city still owes human service providers a lot of money.
4:16:22
From a survey of some of UNH's members, we calculated that the city owes over $90,000,000 across 16 of our members.
4:16:30
They're not alone.
4:16:31
Earlier at the rally, as some folks referenced, we heard providers sharing that they're owed $15.20, $32,000,000 for services already provided.
4:16:39
Late payments are not the fault of any one particular agency, but are a consistent fact of life for all human service providers at this point.
4:16:46
And like we've mentioned, the advances that have been announced are not actually advances.
4:16:52
In fact, I've heard from providers who've utilized the returnable grant fund to hold them over until they can get their advance, which will help them float programming until they're actually paid for their work.
4:17:02
I was also going to end by using DYCD's summarizing program as an example of the flaws in this system and how they impact providers, but Sher Stevens beat me to it.
4:17:12
Situation
4:17:13
not at all unique and is often compounded by late payments across multiple programs.
4:17:17
When nonprofits are owed funding across multiple contracts and multiple city agencies, payroll is threatened, program delivery is limited, and program staff and community members are the ones who wind up bearing the brunt of these delays.
4:17:29
Thank you.
Gale A. Brewer
4:17:13
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