Erin Dalton: Community outreach and conclusion
Dalton describes DSS community outreach connecting LGBTQIA individuals to resources through organizations like Ali Forney and Bronx Legal Services, and concludes by affirming the Mamdani administration's commitment to LGBTQIA dignity.
Our Office of Community Outreach, alongside our Office of LGBTQIA Affairs, serves as a crucial hub in connecting LGBTQIA.
UIA Plus and TGNC communities.
Their work includes providing resources to community organizations like the Center, Ali Forney, and Bronx Legal Services who work with DSS, HRA, DHS clients and assisting them to navigate benefits access.
Our work includes providing dedicated trainings on benefits to community providers, sharing monthly updates through a newsletter to community providers, and coordinating access for more than 450 community-based organizations in total using the Access HRA provider portal.
We also participate in panels, school and community events, shelter house meetings, and LGBTQIA plus support groups.
I would like to take this opportunity to share what Mayor Mamdani has said.
New York City is proud of its LGBTQIA plus community.
We refuse to deny health care safety or dignity to anyone on the basis of their identity.
DSS will continue to uphold our commitment to ensuring all of our services for the LGBTQIA plus culturally competent and welcoming.
I will conclude by expressing my gratitude to my colleagues at DSS and across government, as well as countless human services providers, advocates, and community members, uplifting the dignity of our LGBTQIA plus and TGNC family, friends, and neighbors.
We appreciate this opportunity to testify today, to say happy pride in this forum, and we welcome your questions.
Thank you.