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PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Richard William on Issues with DHS and DSS Services
4:51:08
·
3 min
Richard William, a resident at a BRC facility, testifies about perceived racism, discrimination, and mismanagement in the Department of Homeless Services (DHS) and Department of Social Services (DSS). He claims these issues particularly affect heterosexual and cisgender individuals, citing his personal experience of limited housing opportunities despite long-term shelter residence.
- Alleges only one housing interview in over three years at the BRC facility, despite multiple meetings with case managers and DHS officials
- Expresses concern about the potential removal of shelter residents who have seen "reasonable housing opportunities" or are unwilling to pay 30% of their income
- Claims the current use of the budget contradicts the experiences of vulnerable individuals, suggesting mismanagement, fraud, and corruption
Richard William
4:51:08
Alright.
4:51:08
Thanks for giving me the opportunity to speak, miss Ayala and mister Brennan.
4:51:15
There there's one crucial thing that hasn't been said or addressed at this general welfare budget meeting for 2025, and that is despite what miss Parks said, there's widespread racism and discrimination in the DHS and d h pardon me, DSS agencies, and it's been targeted at heterosexual and cisgender persons.
4:51:44
I have only been to one housing interview in over three years as a resident at the BRC facility, and this is after meetings with case managers, with outreach management, with meeting the abutment at DHS repeatedly for over three years.
4:52:06
Miss Parks said publicly that a shelter facility may remove a person from the facility after that person has seen reasonable housing opportunities.
4:52:21
As I said, I've only seen one one interview in over three years at one resident outside of that facility by the case manager, one.
4:52:35
And also that they would be put out of the shelter or facility if they were unwilling to pay the 30% of their income whether that's from SSD, SSI, or social security.
4:52:50
Now if you examine this one example and there are many other examples and many other scenarios which are not being addressed at the budget proposal hearing.
4:52:59
If you just look at that one example, you'll find that there are gaps and problems in the system that's not being addressed.
4:53:07
And finally, while the emphasis on this general welfare meeting is on how the budget for DHS and DSS is being addressed by the city and the state for the fiscal year of 2025, please let me state here that the reality of how the budget is being used is in total contradiction to what is being experienced by individuals who are formerly homeless, whether they are suffering from mental illnesses, are suffering from drug or alcohol addiction, were formerly incarcerated, or even worse if they're targeted for their gender, for their race, for their age, for their nationality, or their religion.
4:53:45
The DHS and DSS and HRA must put more emphasis on future planning for how future budgets will be used for the most vulnerable persons in society.
4:53:59
And currently as a facility resident, I know personally and I also know collectively that the fiscal budget is being wasted I believe by mismanagement, fraud, and corruption.
4:54:12
Thank you.