Mary Astrid Nussbaumer (Anthos Home) on housing vouchers and stability services
Mary Astrid Nussbaumer of Anthos Home testifies about helping over 230 young adults move from shelter into homes, recommending that all RHY have access to housing vouchers, funding housing navigation capacity, and funding one year of stability services. She reports 98% of households remained stably housed one year after move-in.
Chair Stevens, Deputy Speaker Williams, and members of the committee, thank you for the opportunity to testify.
I'm Mary Astrid Nussbaumer, an aftercare specialist at Anthos Home.
We help New Yorkers move from shelter into homes faster and are a member of the Family Homelessness Coalition.
Runaway and homeless youth searching for permanent housing are most often looking for their first apartment.
They have no credit or rental history and no family to co-sign.
Still, by providing necessary resources, the city can help them move into permanent homes.
Working with ACS and DYCD, Anthos Home has helped move over 230 young adults into homes.
Based on our experience, we recommend the following.
First, ensure that all RHY have access to a housing voucher.
We are grateful that youth and DYCD shelters are eligible for CityHAP, but the current funding will not reach them all.
Young adults in our shelter system should not be denied resources due to the pandemic.
to their age or service provider.
Second, fund housing navigation.
DYCD staff and providers like Aliforni Center and Covenant House already do this work very well, but more capacity is needed to find available units and make move-ins happen.
Third, fund one year of stability services.
By resolving arrears, providing financial education, and helping with voucher renewals, we can help prevent avoidable evictions and keep young people housed.
In our program, 98% of households were still stably housed one year after move-in.
Voucher access and targeted support will help runaway and homeless youth find safe, stable homes.
Thank you again.