Calvin Michael testifies CityFHEPS works but underpayment causes arrears

Good morning.

My name is Calvin.

Michael, I was homeless for seven years, three years in the shelter system.

I was at Clark Thomas Men's Shelter on Randall's Island.

What I want to say is that City Pips has a lot of drawbacks, you know, for what's going on, especially what's going on now.

With some of the delays and stuff like that, but I have had good experiences with CityFest.

I just want to say that, you know, I had really good experience with them.

Right now I'm going through an issue because CFEP's underpaid what they're supposed to be paying to the landlord, so the discrepancy is coming back to me now.

Got it.

So now I have a, you know, a...

I owe rent because they underpaid it.

So I'm dealing with that right now.

But on the whole, CFP is a good program.

I speak for CFP.

If you see me do it, Ms.

Hudson, a couple times.

So I believe in the system.

It works.

That's the whole thing about it.

I wanted to say that it works.

All the negative stuff that was said today, whatever, but CityPep does work, and I think it's going to work better even in the future.

I think they're going to start working on themselves.

I think they're going to do a good job of it.

I think they can turn that city agency into a very good agency.

I really think it could work.

So that's what I have to say, basically.

Thank you.

before the General Harry, so thank you for allowing me to testify now.