October 22, 2024
On Tuesday, October 22, Policy and Advocacy Associate Juan Diaz submitted testimony to the City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises for and Oversight Hearing on the City of Yes Housing Opportunity Proposal. On behalf of CCC, the testimony acknowledges opportunities to address housing insecurity for NYC’s families through City of Yes with necessary increases in supply and zoning flexibility, but also recognizes that there are other solutions to housing insecurity that must be similarly prioritized to expedite housing placement for families experiencing homelessness and prevent homelessness altogether.
Testimony of Juan Diaz
Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York
Submitted to The New York City Council Subcommittee on Zoning and Franchises
Oversight – City of Yes for Housing Opportunity Proposal
October 22, 2024
Thank you, Chair Riley and members of the Committee on Zoning and Franchises, for the opportunity to submit testimony at this hearing regarding the City of Yes for Housing Opportunity zoning text amendments.
Since 1944, Citizens’ Committee for Children of New York has served as an independent, multi- issue child advocacy organization. CCC does not accept or receive public resources, provide direct services, or represent a sector or workforce; our priority is improving outcomes for children and families through civic engagement, research, and advocacy. We document the facts, engage, and mobilize New Yorkers, and advocate for solutions to ensure that every New York child is healthy, housed, educated, and safe.
CCC is a steering committee member of the Family Homeless Coalition (FHC), a coalition comprised of 20 organizations representing service and housing providers, children’s advocacy organizations, and people with lived experience with family homelessness. We are united by the goal of preventing family homelessness, improving the well-being of children and families in shelter, and supporting the long-term stability of families with children who leave shelter.
The City’s 1.4 percent vacancy rate and serious lack of affordable housing units make it extremely difficult for families with children to find stable housing. Furthermore, CCC’s Keeping Track of New York City’s Children data book revealed that in FY23, over 46,000 children resided in City shelters and the average length of stay was 437 days for families with children in shelters. Long shelter stays can permanently impact a child’s educational and overall well-being.
We applaud the City Council’s effort to expand the conversation and call for additional solutions to alleviate the current shelter and housing access crisis and pair them with necessary increases in supply and zoning flexibility. We urge the City Administration to take the following steps to expedite housing placement and prevent homelessness.
Fully Implement the CityFHEPS Reform Package:
Invest in Prevention and Aftercare Services:
Reduce Barriers in Voucher Administration
We applaud the recent streamlining measures and reforms that have been implemented in homeless placements, voucher administration, and NYC Housing Connect lease-up. However, further steps are needed to expedite placement and meaningfully reduce family homelessness.
Additionally, we encourage the City Administration to continue to improve housing placement and invest in agency staffing within benefit access and housing assistance units at HPD, DHS and HRA.
Thank you for your time and consideration.