Categories: Network Events
03.13.2024
On March 12th the Network hosted its inaugural virtual City Council Lobby Day. The Network facilitated a series of 19 meetings with City Council members and/or their staff, 16 throughout that day, and three as follow-ups, aimed at educating stakeholders about issues impacting supportive housing staff and tenants.
60 participants, including ten tenant advocates, convened to address concerns with NYC 15/15, including the need to reallocate NYC 15/15 scattered site funding and support the Network’s NYC 15/15 Reallocation Plan, and expand access to supportive housing for people leaving jail or prison and survivors of domestic violence.
Meetings also focused on the need to #Just Pay the supportive housing workforce and institute a 5% COLA and fully fund and staff city agencies building and filling affordable and supportive housing in the City budget.
Tenant advocates grounded meetings in the importance of supportive housing and the need to ensure continued creation of supportive housing and investments in the workforce.
“Supportive housing saved my life and I will fight for its usefulness and proper funding. There is a housing and homelessness crisis and people on the frontlines are not compensated properly or being treated as vital as they are,” said Will Woods.
“What would I do without supportive housing? I hope I never find out. My goal is to help other people find out about supportive housing and we must have the funding for the infrastructure and supports,” said Victor Walker.
“To have an apartment gives you a sense of dignity and a program that cares about if you. If you fall down, you have people to help you get back up,” said Oscar Gamble.
“Supportive housing has so much to offer. It saved my life. I don’t know where I would be without it,” said Helen Taylor.
“I was in a shelter and then my life changed and my life got happy every day,” said Mina Sekine.
Our thanks go to the Council Members and staff who participated and to our amazing tenant advocates and providers.