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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United
3:33:14
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138 sec
Kristin Miller, Executive Director of Homeless Services United, testified about ongoing payment issues faced by nonprofits delivering homeless services. She emphasized the need for continued pressure to address delayed payments and the financial strain it causes on organizations.
- Miller highlighted that while some improvements have been made, many nonprofits are still owed significant amounts of money, some dating back to fiscal year 2019.
- She pointed out that interest payments on delayed funds are diverting money away from program services.
- Miller called for increased staffing at DHS and more resources for the Mayor's Office of Contract Services to process paperwork and improve the payment system.
Kristin Miller
3:33:14
Good afternoon.
3:33:15
I'm Kristen Miller.
3:33:17
I am executive director of Homeless Services United, a member organization representing 55 nonprofits who deliver homeless services and shelter services across the city.
3:33:27
I'm submitting written testimony that echoes much of what my colleagues here have presented.
3:33:33
What I wanted to focus on is reaction to what the commissioner was speaking about with payment issues.
3:33:42
So she has acknowledged that we have a problem.
3:33:46
We have an issue with nonprofits getting paid.
3:33:49
I have testified before you many times talking about the hundreds of millions of dollars that are collectively owed to nonprofits going back as far as fiscal year nineteen.
3:34:00
I think the message for us to you is for you to please continue to push.
3:34:07
We have seen some improvements.
3:34:10
But the reality is we are barely ahead of where we were a year ago.
3:34:16
So we hear a lot of things happening.
3:34:18
It's like the track being laid, but the train is not moving.
3:34:22
So somebody might have been owed $60,000,000 Now they're owed $38,000,000 They are still owed $38,000,000 They're still paying a million dollars in interest this year alone.
3:34:35
This is funding that should go back into program.
3:34:38
It should be going back into the mission of helping people in New York City.
3:34:44
I think when the budget comes, when we're looking at the budget, we are happy to see that there was some money in there for MOCs, Mayor's Office of Contract Services.
3:34:53
They need more staff and OTPS funding to make improvements to passport.
3:35:00
That was good to see.
3:35:02
But we do see a decrease in DHS staff.
3:35:05
Excuse me, Commissioner Park noted that there are many cooks stirring the pot, right?
3:35:11
So we need more program staff, budget, fiscal staff.
3:35:15
Right?
3:35:15
We are not seeing that investment and we believe that there is no way we will ever get ahead until there are more trained people to process the paperwork so that we have the ability to invoice.
3:35:30
I look forward to working with you more on this.
3:35:32
Thank you.