October 18, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on Immigration
New arrivals, along with the notable thousands of other noncitizens who were already residing in the City’s care, have been systematically excluded from the social safety-net, most notably rental assistance, resulting in them becoming long-term stayers in the shelter system and forcing families into prolonged poverty. As a result, many aspiring Americans lack a pathway out of shelter and into permanent housing. For these asylum-seeking families to ultimately find permanent housing, they need a “legal first” approach to apply for asylum and work authorization. Our clients want to work legally and to support themselves independently; however, historically, it has been nearly impossible for families living in our shelters to find affordable and trustworthy legal help for their immigration cases. This delay is extremely concerning for immigration cases, as asylum claims must be submitted within a one-year deadline of an individual arriving in the United States. Families who arrived here in the past year risk their asylum cases timing out, and immigrants eligible for asylum are denied status only because they lack an attorney or legal advocate to oversee their cases.
September 27, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare Oversight Hearing – Public Benefits Processing Delays at HRA
Despite the Mayor’s rhetoric that we can cut resources from DSS without significant impacts to City services, the cuts enacted under his tenure have already resulted in massive disruptions in critical services. For instance, cash assistance timeliness rates, which are listed as a critical indicator in the 2023 Mayor’s Management Report shows a rate of just 28.8 percent in FY23, down from 95.4% in FY21 when Mayor Adam’s took office. Similarly, the SNAP timeliness rate is also down to just 39.7% in FY23 compared to 91.9% in FY21.i That equates to families waiting an unacceptable amount of time for the benefits they desperately need.
September 21, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on Women and Gender Equity
Win has always welcomed all children into our shelters, and we strive to provide high-quality programming for kids of all ages. However, while subsidized childcare is a proven catalyst for the economic advancement of parents and the enrichment of their children, the City does not facilitate enrollment in public and community-based programs. Win has to privately fund its own convenient on-site childcare, and families who chose to enroll in community childcare must first endure a lengthy eligibility and application process. To rectify these issues, we stand in support of the proposed bills and recommend additional changes to improve childcare access for families experiencing homelessness. For all the families, the short- and long-term impacts of childcare are innumerable.
August 10, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare Jointly with the Committee on Immigration
For families with children who are living in precarious emergency shelter settings or have yet to go through intake, the 60-Day Rule offers a grim insight on what could be coming next for them. The 60-Day Rule has resulted in adult asylum seekers sleeping on the streets or in City parks, and we worry that families will soon be subject to these harsh rules and unfit conditions if the City doesn’t alter its agenda.
June 21, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on Immigration Jointly with the Committee on General Welfare
As part of the Mayor’s Program to Eliminate the Gap, the City is proposing to cut the budget of nonprofit providers by 2.5 percents, specifically telling us to consider staff layoffs. These cuts will undoubtedly result in delayed move-outs, worsened outcomes for families and children, overworked employees, and additional staffing vacancies in homeless services. The City is starving the very system on which it depends. Therefore, as we come before the City Council today to support the proposed legislation, we ask you first and foremost to oppose these cuts to the Department of Homeless Services and providers to assure that there is an infrastructure left to implement these reforms.
May 24, 2023
Testimony for the New York City Council Committee on Finance Executive Budget Hearing
As the City continues to face historically high levels of homelessness, it is critical that the FY24 budget invests in essential services focusing on solving rather than managing the crisis. Initial investments in lifesaving services and resources will lead to significant savings for the City. We urge the City to adopt common sense and fiscally responsible reforms that will improve the social services sector, address the mental health crisis, and combat homelessness.
April 28, 2023
Testimony of Win (formerly Women In Need, Inc.) for the New York City Council Committee on Immigration Jointly with the Committee on Governmental Operations
Thank you to Chair Hanif and Chair Ung and to the esteemed members of the Committee on Immigration and the Committee on Governmental Operations for the opportunity to submit testimony. I am Dr. Henry Love, the Vice President of Policy and Planning at Win.
April 25, 2023
Comments from Win (formerly Women In Need, Inc.) On The Human Resources Administrations Proposed Rule Changes Related to CityFHEPS
Win would like to express our support for the New York City Human Resources Administration’s (HRA)
proposals to increase eligibility and simplify the administrative process for the City Fighting Homelessness
and Eviction Prevention Supplement (CityFHEPS) program.
April 25, 2023
Testimony from Win (formerly Women In Need, Inc.) For The Committee on General Welfare FY24 Budget Hearing
Thank you, Chair Ayala and members of the General Welfare Committee, for the opportunity to offer
testimony. Win is the largest provider of shelter and services to families with children experiencing
homelessness in New York City. Win operates 14 shelters and nearly 500 supportive housing units
throughout the city. Currently, more than 6,200 people call Win “home” every night, including 3,490
children — in total, we house over 14 percent of homeless families with children in New York City.
March 27, 2023
Testimony of Win (Formerly Women in Need) for the New York City Council Committee on General Welfare on Access to Legal Representation in Housing Court
Thank you to Chair Ayala and to the esteemed members of the Committee on General Welfare
for the opportunity to submit testimony. Currently, Win is the nation’s largest provider of shelter
and services to families with children experiencing homelessness. We operate 14 shelters and
nearly 500 supportive housing units across the five boroughs.