Your guide to NYC's public proceedings.
PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Calvin Michael, Member of Safety Net Activists from Safety Net Project, Urban Justice Center
3:14:10
·
139 sec
Calvin Michael, representing Safety Net Activists and the Safety Net Project at Urban Justice Center, testified about concerns with DHS's proposed shelter sanctions policy and the need for improved services in shelters. He strongly opposed the policy that could result in shelter residents being evicted for 30 days for various reasons.
- Advocated for more housing instead of sanctions
- Called for more staff, particularly housing specialists, to be more involved in helping clients find housing
- Highlighted the lack of WiFi in shelters, making it difficult for residents to search for work or housing, which could lead to sanctions
Calvin Michael
3:14:10
Okay.
3:14:12
Good well, good afternoon.
3:14:14
My name is Calvin Michael.
3:14:18
Good morning.
3:14:19
My name is Calvin Michael.
3:14:20
I'm speaking on behalf of the Safety Net Activist in conjunction with the Safety Net Project at the Urban Justice Center.
3:14:29
I'd like to speak about a couple things today.
3:14:32
First, I'd like to speak about DHS proposed shelter sanctions policy, whereby shelter residents can be kicked out onto the streets for thirty days for things like having an issue with your public assistance case not securing permanent housing after getting kicked out on the street.
3:14:50
It may even be possible for the same prior shelter resident to be swept up in the sweeps campaign that's going on at Washington Square Park.
3:15:00
So we're strongly opposed to the sanctions policy.
3:15:03
We don't need sanctions.
3:15:04
We need housing.
3:15:06
Even though it's, you know, maybe necessary, it's a little bit more on, like I said, more negative side.
3:15:17
Basically, let me wrap it up by saying, I think that's we think that city thefts needs more staff, particularly, like, specialists, and the housing specialists need to have, like, be more involved with the clients.
3:15:36
Like for instance, they need to be more involved as far as helping them find housing actively.
3:15:43
Like giving them information, helping them, you know, get on suggestions for the Internet, things of that nature.
3:15:51
And also to lastly, the WiFi, I was gonna I'm glad that they're adding WiFi.
3:15:57
So because the shelter that I was in, was like Clark Thomas men's shelter, three hundred men on an open floor, no WiFi.
3:16:04
And we couldn't look for we couldn't look for work.
3:16:06
And but but one of the sanctions is not looking for housing.
3:16:10
That's one of the issues that I wanted to post today.
3:16:13
You're you're in a shelter among 300 men, there's no WiFi.
3:16:17
How are you gonna look for work?
3:16:18
You can't look for work.
3:16:19
You can't look for a job.
3:16:20
You can't look for housing.
3:16:22
And then you get sanctioned, you know what I'm saying?
3:16:24
That's the whole thing.
3:16:25
I ended up right there.
3:16:27
And then, you know, go ahead.
3:16:28
Thank you.