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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Anita Kwok, Policy Analyst at United Neighborhood Houses
4:42:53
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149 sec
Anita Kwok, representing United Neighborhood Houses, testified on the NYC aging budget, expressing gratitude for restorations and urging further investments to support older New Yorkers. She highlighted the growing needs of the aging population and the impact of inflation on services.
- Requested a $57 million investment to increase food budgets at older adult centers
- Called for $28.6 million to implement Intro 770, expanding meal delivery to 7 days a week
- Urged $44 million investment in case management programs to address high caseloads
- Advocated for a recurring $5 million capital fund for program repairs and improvements
- Requested restoration of council initiatives, including expanding the NORC initiative to $6.2 million
Anita Kwok
4:42:53
Thank you Chairs Hudson and Brannen for convening today's budget hearing on aging.
4:42:57
My name is Anita Kwok, a policy analyst for United Neighborhood Houses and Association of Settlement Houses in New York.
4:43:03
We're really grateful for the council's support on aging services by including many of our priorities in the preliminary budget.
4:43:08
And when the mayor released the executive budget, we were really relieved to see that the NYC fiscal, the NYC aging fiscal cliff cuts were restored with an $81,500,000 investment in FY '26 and a $75,000,000 restorations baseline as well as restorations of 23,000,000 in OAC pay cuts in FY '26 and 37,700,000.0 in the out years.
4:43:28
So now, we urge the council to fight to restore funding in the FY '26 budget, and make these new investments in the aging services network.
4:43:37
You know, older adults were just outside city hall demanding no more cuts and, to fund aging now.
4:43:43
So thank you council members Hudson, Banks, nurse, and bouteers for stopping by.
4:43:48
Yeah.
4:43:48
This is a growing population with growing needs with without resources to handle ongoing inflation.
4:43:53
So UNH urges the city to take the following budget actions to support older New Yorkers.
4:44:00
One, increase food budgets at older adult centers with a $57,000,000 investment to meet, inflation needs.
4:44:06
This week, UNH is actually releasing a report on the impact of congregate meal programs on OACs and more details about cost increases highlighting the urgent need to invest $57,000,000 in the budget.
4:44:16
We look forward to sharing it with, the council.
4:44:19
Two, invest $28,600,000 to authorize council member to operationalize council member Linda Lee's intro seven seven zero, which would require the city to pay, meals seven days a week.
4:44:30
Expanding home delivery meals is really critical to addressing food insecurity.
4:44:33
Three, invest $44,000,000 for the case management program to help with caseloads and staffing.
4:44:39
Caseloads have increased.
4:44:39
Intake coordinators have been eliminated, and there is a really high need for case management right now without the funds.
4:44:46
Four, create a recurring capital fund of at least $5,000,000 for programs and repairs.
4:44:50
Thank you to the council for including the 50,000,000 in its preliminary budget response for capital needs and aging services programs, echoing our request for a recurring capital fund in this amount each year for NYC aging.
4:45:00
And for five, restore council initiatives which provide enormous support for older adults and the programs that support them, including growing the Newark City Council initiative to $6,200,000.
4:45:13
We thank the council for all of its support for aging and urge them to fight for these essential enhancements in FY '26.
4:45:21
Thank you for your time.