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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Gabriela Sandoval Requena, Vice President of External Affairs at New Destiny Housing
4:15:46
·
140 sec
Gabriela Sandoval Requena from New Destiny Housing testified on the importance of housing solutions for domestic violence survivors and requested support for federal and city housing programs. She highlighted three main priorities:
- Urged city council to advocate for continued funding of the federal Emergency Housing Voucher program
- Requested contingency planning and increased funding for City FHEPS in case of EHV loss
- Called for $6 million in the FY 2026 budget for the flexible funding program for domestic violence survivors
Additional details:
- New Destiny Housing focuses on permanent housing solutions for domestic violence survivors
- Domestic violence is the leading cause of family homelessness in New York City
- The flexible funding program, implemented last year, has already exhausted its $1.2 million allocation
Gabriela Sandoval Requena
4:15:46
Thank you so much.
4:15:47
Good afternoon deputy speaker Ayala and chair Brennan and council central staff.
4:15:52
Thank you for holding this hearing and for the opportunity to testify on behalf of New Destiny Housing.
4:15:57
My name is Gabriela Sandoval Requena, and I am the vice president of external affairs for New Destiny Housing.
4:16:03
New Destiny is the only organization in New York that's 100% focused on permanent housing solutions for domestic violence survivors.
4:16:10
We do this work because domestic violence is the number one cause of family homelessness in New York City.
4:16:16
Access to a safe and affordable home often determines survivors' ability to leave their abuser for good and stay alive.
4:16:24
As the federal government continues to threaten vital housing programs for survivors, this year more than ever, we need our city leaders to step up and protect New Yorkers impacted by domestic violence and homelessness.
4:16:37
We are submitted to extend written testimony, so I'm just gonna focus on our three priorities here.
4:16:42
Number one, we asked the city council to urge members of congress to fund the federal emergency housing voucher program.
4:16:50
This federal government, the federal government notified agencies in March that funding for the program is ending this year.
4:16:57
Nearly 8,000 households in our city depend on this vital resource including almost 1,700 domestic violence survivors.
4:17:06
New Destiny helped house more than half of these survivors and since we maintain close contact through our aftercare services with them, we know how vulnerable many of them are to return to homelessness or their abuser if they were to lose the vouchers.
4:17:19
Number two, we ask the council to ensure that HRA, HPD, NYCHA are planning for contingencies to support any loss of VHVs including increased funding for city febs and opposing the proposed income changes to the program.
4:17:34
And number three, the 2026 budget must include 6,000,000 for NGBV's flexible funding program for domestic violence survivors.
4:17:42
We thank the council for passing legislation that created this program back in 2022.
4:17:48
The flexible funding program was finally implemented last year as part of just a few more moments.
4:17:54
As part of the existing home plus initiative, however, the 1,200,000.0 allocated in the budget has proven to be insufficient, We understand that by now the funding actually has run out.
4:18:05
Thank you and I'm happy to answer any questions.