Categories: New York City
03.27.2025
In March the Network testified at four New York City Council preliminary budget hearings: Committees on Finance; General Welfare; Health and Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction; and Housing and Buildings. At Housing and Buildings, the Network testified alongside a panel of supportive housing tenant advocates.
On March 5th, Network Director of Policy Tierra Labrada testified to the Finance Committee. Tierra stressed that NYC risks failing to meet its supportive housing commitments. She thanked the Council for its support of the Network’s NYC 15/15 reallocation proposal and urged the Council to implement and fully funded the proposal in FY26 and beyond, asking for an additional $307 million in capital to develop and preserve 950 units, $45 million for the cost of service and operating and $27 million to align the operating subsidy with current HPD standards. See full testimony here.
On March 17th, Tierra submitted testimony to the General Welfare committee in which she also stressed the need to hold the administration accountable for late contract payments, especially as federal funding remains uncertain and paused for many providers. See here for the full testimony.
On March 24th, Network Policy Intern Katie Mui testified to the Health and Mental Health, Disabilities and Addiction committees. Katie additionally urged the council to support $4.8M additional funding for the Justice-Involved Supportive Housing (JISH) program, $4.5 million for well-paid peer specialists to ensure peer-responders on B-HEARD crisis response teams, $22 million for Intensive Mobile Treatment (IMT) teams, and $6 million for four new crises respite centers. See full testimony here.
On March 25th, Network Director of Programs and Engagement Joelle Ballam-Schwan testified to the Housing and Buildings committee. Joelle additionally voiced strong concern regarding the significant decrease in housing capital funding proposed in the preliminary budget post 2026 and recommend continuing a baseline funding level of $4 billion in housing capital.
Supportive housing tenant advocates testified to the importance of funding supportive housing:
"We’re asking New York City to keep its commitment to building 15,000 units in 15 years. Now more than ever is the time to do everything we can to keep giving people the safe haven they deserve and the dignity to start over and move forward." Tenant Advocate Kenny Alvarez, former tenant at The Doe Fund.
"Supportive housing literally saves my life every day. I’m here today to make a path for the thousands of New Yorkers who want the opportunity to improve their lives by encouraging you to protect and expand funding for supportive housing." Tenant Advocate Victor Walker, tenant with Jericho Project.
"I’m here today advocating because I believe in supportive housing. It has truly helped me in my life and changed my life completely. I am now living a free life," Tenant Advocate Doreen Burton, tenant with Lantern Community Services.
"I went from sleeping in the park to performing at Shakespeare at the park," Tenant Advocate Helen Taylor with The Fortune Society.
Will Woods, Consumer Advocate with Urban Pathways also submitted written testimony. See HERE.
See Kenny Alvarez's full testimony HERE. See Victor Walker's full testimony HERE. See the Network's full testimony HERE.