Chair Stevens questions Laura on upstate beds and NYC partnership
Stevens questions Pennington about upstate bed capacity and waitlists. Pennington confirms 350 total beds in all of upstate NY, currently no waitlist but anticipating one as shelters close, and says she personally has not been part of DYCD's communications with upstate providers. Stevens commits to building the partnership between upstate and downstate providers.
No, thank you.
One, I appreciate you being here with us today because one of the things we have been talking and highlighting about is the funding that is being cut at the state level and how the state has not done their fair share with homeless runaway youth.
And just trying to make the connection of like, do you guys think that New York City should be preparing because we should be preparing for possible influx because of the cuts that you guys are seeing upstate and
What does that partnership look like, you believe?
I do believe that there will be some additional cuts in areas that are closer to the city, which would cause an influx.
Currently, we do support youth who come from New York City area, and I'm sure that you support youth who are coming from our area.
And I think that that influx will grow as the 350 beds become fewer in upstate New York.
In all of upstate New York, that is the total number of beds we have.
So all of upstate New York, you have 300, and you said 20 beds?
350.
350.
Okay.
I'm sorry.
Yes.
And do you guys have wait lists currently?
We actually are very lucky that right now we do not, and we are able to support Erie County with their wait lists,
but we have had long periods of wait lists.
And so currently you just don't have it in any now.
And as the bed number gets decreased, you do anticipate that there will be way less.
We do.
And so I know transportation between counties isn't something that is easy.
So it is become more and more expensive to provide those services.
Yeah.
And today I know DYCD testified that they are in constant communication with you guys around support.
Do you know what those supports and conversations have been?
Have you been a part of those conversations?
I personally have not, no.
Thank you so much for being here today, and please continue to reach out with us so we can continue to build the partnership from the upstate folks as you guys are seeing a decrease and seeing how we can continue to support because we want to make sure all our young people are supported.
We do.
Thank you so much.