POLICY MATTERS
A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC.
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Community Health Centers Still Over the "Fiscal Cliff" with Most Federal Funding Unauthorized
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Congress missed a September 30th deadline to reauthorize the most major share of funding for community health centers (like the 24 Care for the Homeless health center program delivery sites in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan and Queens) that provide primary health care to many of the poorest and most vulnerable Americans. The funding, through the Health Center Fund, provides over $3.6 billion of the total $5.1 billion the federal government pays for health centers to provide services to about 27 million patients annually.
Because this fund requires reauthorization from time to time, there is currently no authorization to make payments through that program to community health centers since September 30th, more than a month ago. Going past that fiscal year deadline, and losing authorization for future payments, is what has been referred to as going over "the fiscal cliff."
But it's not too late to fix the problem, and get back on the right side of the fiscal cliff. If Congress passes, and the President signs, new legislation extending the Health Center Fund in the next month or so, this crisis that threatens to close thousands of community health centers, and reduce services at others, can still be averted. What's more, there is strong bi-partisan support to do just that. Most members of Congress in both the House and the Senate support legislation to extend the Health Center Fund's authorization - if only it can get a vote on the floor of each chamber.
Read More Here.
Closing or cutting back operations at thousands and thousands of community health centers would be ruinous to the American health care system, which simply isn't resourced to serve the up to 24 million patients now receiving care at health centers. Especially public hospitals who would wind up with most of the health care for the very poor, very sick, and many disabled patients now treated at community health centers, and they simply aren't resourced or set up to pick up this demand. To avoid a health care catastrophe, please ask your Representatives and Senators to get a vote on this issue in November.
You can call this number - 202-224-3121 - to find out who your members of Congress are, and to be put through to their offices.
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Housing After Emergency Shelter Stay for Domestic Violence Survivors
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On Monday, October 30th, the City Council General Welfare and Women Issues Committees held an oversight hearing of the Human Resources Administration (HRA), at the end of Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The hearing examined HRA domestic violence (DV) shelters and services for DV survivors. HRA’s Office of Domestic Violence (ODV) provides emergency shelter, transitional housing programs and supportive services for DV survivors and their children. HRA’s ODV operates one emergency DV shelter and has oversight of 53 private emergency residential programs and 8 transitional housing programs known as Tier II shelters. To protect victims, DV shelter locations are kept confidential.
The current debate centers around a newly enforced State requirement to limit emergency shelter stays to 180-days. If a family is unable to relocate to permanent housing after 180 days, they have few options outside the city’s homeless shelter system. A statistic from 2011 tracking where DV survivors go from emergency shelter stays reports that 80% of DV emergency shelter residents were unable to secure permanent housing, with only 28% eligible for NYCHA’s DV priority. To update statistical data and inform policy recommendations, City Council introduced legislation (Intro 1739) to require HRA to issue an annual report on the number of individuals and families who exit DV emergency shelters and the type of housing they reside in upon exit. The report would be annual, starting on March 1, 2018.
Read more here.
Despite these advances, domestic violence is one of the biggest feeder systems to homelessness. Many DV survivors at the end of their 180 days are faced with two terrible choices; going to a homeless shelter or returning to their abuser. We as a city have to do a better job at providing alternatives and Intro 1739 seeks to inform advocates, policy makers and service providers on the extent of the problem.
Join us on Monday, November 6th for CFH’s First Monday Policy Briefing for a presentation and discussion about Domestic Violence and its Impact on Homelessness at 5:00 p.m., 30 East 33rd Street, Fifth floor. Details can be found
here.
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Congratulations Councilwoman Annabel Palma on Being Named Deputy City Commissioner of Social Services
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Councilwoman Annabel Palma, the former outstanding Chair of City Council's General Welfare Committee, and a great supporter of Care for the Homeless efforts to fight, prevent and end homelessness, will be appointed Deputy Commissioner of Strategic Initiatives in January at the city Department of Homeless Services. She has had a remarkable record of fighting for policies and programs to support people experiencing homelessness in New York City, and CFH congratulates her on this exceptional appointment.
Not only has Councilwoman Palma been a leader on issues for the most vulnerable New Yorkers, but she also has the lived experience of unstable housing and homelessness as a young working mother in New York City. During the last five years CFH advocate and client leaders met regularly with the Councilwoman. A couple of years ago she was the first person ever awarded the Care for the Homeless Clients' Hero Award, voted on by the client leaders of CFH.
In her new role, Deputy Commissioner Palma will be responsible for strategic initiatives including the critical "Turning the Tide" city plan to replace often criticized emergency hotel and cluster shelter sites with new purpose-built shelters. If fully implemented, that program will provide far better far better services at great cost savings and replace the worst shelter facilities in New York City. She will report directly to Social Services Commissioner Steve Banks.
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CFH Gets a New Leader We Can All Be Proud to Follow, Welcome to Executive Director George Nashak
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Care for the Homeless, and its Policy and Advocacy operation, are thrilled to welcome aboard our new Executive Director, George Nashak, who started in this role in October. Our new leader is a legitimate policy expert, having served as both a top-level policy maker at the city Department of Homeless Services and as a top executive at nonprofit HELP USA.
At DHS, George served as Assistant Commissioner for Housing and Program Planning, and then as Deputy Commissioner for Adult Services. He successfully worked on the New York/New York III program that created new supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness in New York City and other permanent housing initiatives. He also was responsible for single adult shelters (like CFH's Susan's Place), street homelessness services and rehousing homeless adults. Before that, he was Vice President of the Postgraduate Center for Mental Health and then directed the Planning Bureau at the city's Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Alcoholism Services.
George most recently was Executive Vice President of HELP USA where he oversaw operations of their $100 million portfolio of housing and supportive services. He is currently the elected President of Homeless Services United, a leading organization of homeless service provider groups in New York City.
George Nashak brings a wealth of experience, expertise in policy and advocacy and a real commitment to the effort to fight, prevent and end homelessness.
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The Busy Advocate's November Calendar
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Mon., Nov. 6th, 5:00 p.m., CFH "First Monday" Policy Briefing on Domestic Violence and Homelessness in New York City, CFH Conference Room, 30 E. 33rd Street, Manhattan, NY.
RVSP here.
Tue., Nov. 7th, All Day, Election Day, New York City is holding regular elections for mayor, comptroller, public advocate, and all 51 seats on the city council in 2017. Please Take the Time to Vote!
Sun, Nov. 12th - Sun. Nov. 18th, National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week, Observed each year before Thanksgiving, this week is about sharing compassion and empathy with our members of our community who are unstably housed and/or experiencing hunger.
Tue., Nov. 14th, 10:00 a.m., NY City Council Hearing, Joint Oversight Meeting by Council's Housing and Buildings Committee and the General Welfare Committee, on Coordination between city Department of Housing Preservation and Development and the Departments of Homeless Services and Human Resources Administration, regarding NYC's Homelessness Crisis. New York City Hall, New York, NY 10007.
Tue., Nov. 14th, 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m., "Homelessness and Affordable Housing Advocacy 101", Free workshop hosted by Interfaith Assembly on Homelessness and Housing, come learn how you can be an advocate for our homeless neighbors through fighting for more affordable housing at the local and state level. Broadway Presbyterian Church, 601 West 114th Street, New York, NY 10025.
Register here.
Thur., Nov. 23rd, All Day, Thanksgiving, A day for us all to start to think about what we are thankful for. Also an important time to be mindful of the colonial history of the US and the on-going mistreatment of indigenous people.
Tue., Nov. 28th, 10:00 a.m., Joint Public Oversight Hearing by New York City Council's Health Committee and Committee on Immigration Access to Healthcare, Council Chambers, New York City Hall, New York, NY 10007.
Wed., Nov. 29th, 12:30 p.m., CAB Client Leader Meeting, CFH Conference Room, 30 E. 33rd Street, Manhattan, NY.
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A monthly update on policy issues in the fight against homelessness in NYC.
Thank you for your generous support of our mission.
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