Elizabeth Mackey testifies on CityFHEPS payment failure and court threat

Good afternoon.

So my name is Elizabeth Mackey, and I am a member leader with Safety Net, local New York and other organizations throughout the city.

So here I am to speak about the needed change with city FEPS.

I have city FEPS, and I used to work for the city for 29 years with ACS.

Who am I to say that I was going to be homeless?

Who am I to say I would ever need a voucher?

Who am I to say that I was going to live in an apartment building?

Who was I to say that here I am to testify in front of city council?

Who am I to say I was going to be an advocate?

To hear, to speak, to work, to do the things that I do.

But here am I to testify again to say City FEPS is a well-needed voucher program that doesn't work for all that is in need of.

We have so many issues with City FEPS vouchers.

People that waited like I did a year to get an apartment, waited for HRA to cut a check, waited to get an apartment to be expected.

It took months and months for my apartment that I am in that the landlord faithfully waited for me to get the apartment expected.

It took months for a system to

fell me for the apartment that needed to be expected, but fell twice, but the landlord never gave up on me.

I prayed and prayed for the apartment that I thought that I was going to get, and he prayed with me while a landlord prayed that I would get that apartment.

But here am I, another part of the process.

The city failed to not pay the landlord five months.

The landlord wants his money.

Now here I am, going to go to court with the same landlord who prayed for me to get the apartment.

He's taking me to court.

So city faps, which I want the bills to get paid to get introduced to, the city failed me.

And one thing that I want the city to do is to do right.

To do right.

And being part of all these organizations and being part of someone who has lived experience and to work here with others who have the same voucher and people that is in these shelters.

All we want is for city council, for all the organizations, and even for the mayor.

To sit back.

Have y'all been in shelters?

Do y'all know what it feels like?

Have y'all been to court?

Do y'all know what it feels like?

Maybe not.

But here am I, along with all of these people here,

They know what it feels like.

They know what the experience is.

All you have to do is to sign the bills and make people accountable.

Make DSS, HRA, and all these other agencies people to make these bills be passed.

We don't ask for much.

And we should not have to beg, plead for little things that's going to help others to get out of shelter and make permanent housing.

These people have children that rely on things that assist them, these systems that we didn't ask for, but they are helpful for us.

So one thing that I'm asking for y'all, do the right thing.

Sign these bills, but also make DSS, HRA, and all these systems accountable for things that's supposed to do right for the people.

Thank you.

Thank you.