Regan Robinson (Covenant House) on guaranteed income program restoration
Regan Robinson of Covenant House NY urges reinstatement of $3 million citywide funding for the guaranteed income initiative, citing that 60% of Cash with Care participants secured housing and 70% gained employment in nine months. She also advocates for raising bed rates to $80,000 and including RHY youth in voucher rollout design.
Good afternoon.
My name is Regan Robinson, and I'm the Senior Youth Engagement Coordinator at Covenant House New York, where I have the privilege of leading our Youth Ambassador Program, who you'll hear from three of them today, as well as our Guaranteed Income Program called Cash with Care.
I'm here today to urge the City Council to reinstate funding for the City's Guaranteed Income Initiative, which provided direct cash support to young people experiencing homelessness and expectant mothers.
In the first nine months of Cash with Care, more than 60% of our participating youth secured their own apartment or reunited with family, and 70% gained employment.
These early outcomes show the potential of combining direct cash assistance with supportive services.
But the initiative operated for only one year, which is way too short to know whether these results can actually last.
So ending the program now means losing the opportunity to understand all of its long-term impact.
So we are here respectfully urging the council to restore the $3 million citywide investment in guaranteed income, including the $1.5 million for Covenant House New York's Cash with Care program.
This continued funding would allow us to build on what we've learned.
It would allow us to track our outcomes, determine whether guaranteed income alongside these supportive services can help young people achieve this long-term stability for housing and economic stability.
We are also here joining.
with other RHY providers asking for the increase in the bed rate for all existing DYCD contracts to $80,000 per bed, so providers have the resources to meet young people's needs.
As the city expands its housing voucher programs, we're also asking that RHY youth have a meaningful role in the rollout through youth-informed program design, target outreach, and clear referral pathways.
Thank you for your time.