Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Agnes Kim, Representative of Family Homelessness Coalition
4:05:22
·
113 sec
Agnes Kim, representing the Family Homelessness Coalition (FHC), testifies on the NYC executive budget, expressing concerns about proposed changes to the City FHEPS program and advocating for increased support for families facing homelessness. She emphasizes the need for solutions to address the potential loss of Emergency Housing Vouchers and calls for increased funding for various housing stability programs.
- Raised concerns about the proposed increase in tenant rent contribution from 30% to 40% for some City FHEPS recipients
- Urged for a solution to the looming crisis caused by the planned end of Emergency Housing Vouchers for 16,000 families
- Advocated for a $37.9 million increase to the Home Base program budget and $4 million additional funding for the City Commission on Human Rights
Agnes Kim
4:05:22
Hello, my name is Agnes Kim and I'm testifying today on behalf of the Family Homelessness Coalition or FHC.
4:05:28
FHC is made up of organizations representing service and housing providers, children's advocacy organizations, and people with lived experience with family homelessness.
4:05:35
We're united by the goal of preventing family homelessness, improving the well-being of children and families in shelter, and supporting the long term stability of families with children who leave shelter.
4:05:44
Thank you to the chairs and members of the committees for the opportunity to testify.
4:05:47
While we were pleased to see 176,600,000 in the executive budget dedicated to city feps, we are greatly concerned about the proposed HRA rule to increase some recipients' portion of rent from 30% to 40%.
4:05:59
While rents in New York City continue to increase sharply, incomes have not.
4:06:02
The cost of rent has been rising faster than income, further widening the gap in recent years.
4:06:07
While we understand the need to control costs in an uncertain federal and budgetary environment, this change is not the way to do so.
4:06:13
This is a critical moment for the city to commit sufficient resources to support families in need.
4:06:18
Given the federal landscape, the city should do all in its power to mitigate the impacts of looming federal cuts to housing programs, social services, Medicaid, and other social safety net programs.
4:06:27
FHC continues to strongly urge the following priorities in the upcoming budget.
4:06:31
Finding a housing stability solution for the emergency housing voucher recipients.
4:06:35
FHC is deeply troubled by the planned end for the EHV vouchers, which house around 16,000 families.
4:06:41
There's a looming crisis of homelessness which there's a looming crisis of homelessness if a solution is not found for these families.
4:06:50
While federal advocacy efforts continue, we urge all stakeholders to come together with the plan.
4:06:54
Additionally, increasing the budget for home base by $37,900,000 a total of $100,000,000 for eviction and aftercare services and improve housing stabilities for low income households.
4:07:04
We also support $4,000,000 in additional funding for the City Commission on Human Rights to enforce source of income discrimination amongst other priorities which we've outlined in the submitted written testimony as well.
4:07:14
On behalf of FHC, thank you again.