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REMARKS
Shams DaBaron on the importance of lived experience in addressing homelessness
0:17:12
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3 min
Commissioner Shams DaBaron reflects on his unique position as someone with lived experience of the foster care system and chronic homelessness.
He stresses the value of including such perspectives in decision-making to change policies that negatively impact many New Yorkers. DaBaron expresses gratitude for the opportunity and emphasizes the commission's focus on housing as the real solution to homelessness.
Richard R. Buery Jr.
0:17:12
Next, pleasure to introduce, Shams de Baron, an advocate and a change maker committed to positive change for people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity.
0:17:23
Having experienced homelessness as a child after being discharged from the foster care system at age 12, Champ has emerged as a powerful voice for his community and beyond.
0:17:32
So glad you can join us.
0:17:34
Champ?
Shams DaBaron
0:17:37
I don't have much to say.
0:17:38
No.
0:17:40
So I think, that, you know, it's unique that I'm sitting here today amongst all of you as someone who has, as you said, grew up in the foster care system, started experiencing homelessness at the age of 10, and was permanently discharged into the street without a safety net at the age of 12.
0:18:05
A history of chronic homelessness.
0:18:07
Also raising my son in the family shelter system, and, I have six children.
0:18:15
We've all been through a lot in the city due to a due to a lot of failed policies and other things.
0:18:24
I think that, this is a unique time in our history that we have someone who actually lived the issues in such a traumatic way that can sit here, in this capacity to, help to change those things that have negatively impacted not just myself, but tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers through the years.
0:18:53
I think that one of the things that I have always, sort of, like, tried to position was the value of having people with lived experience, having a seat at the table, a voice in the discussions, and a hand in the decision makers in the decision making.
0:19:13
And here we have this opportunity with this, commission, not just for us to articulate our thoughts and our views, but really to source through the diverse, city, of of people great people in our city to really reflect what their desires is desires is, in this, in this city.
0:19:40
And I think I believe that we will, collectively as a city, do something that is great, that is historic.
0:19:50
We've seen a little taste of that with the work that we've done collectively on the city of yes.
0:19:55
And the fact that we're focused on the real solution to homelessness, housing, should not be lost on anyone.
0:20:04
And so I'm just honored.
0:20:07
I'm humbled.
0:20:08
I'm grateful, and I'm also ready to get to work.
0:20:12
Alright.