Hanif thanks Gary and asks Madeline about DHS shelter discrimination

Before I ask some follow-up questions, my colleagues, any questions?

Okay.

First, I just want to thank Gary for joining us.

Councilmember One gave you a huge shout-out in her remarks.

She's not here with us, but she acknowledged just your advocacy in getting us this resolution.

And we look forward to getting the bill passed as soon as possible, but really welcome

your advocacy and your activism and also just the CUNY pride as a former CUNY student myself.

Really appreciate you joining us for all the work that you've been doing.

I have a question for Madeline.

Madeline.

Madeline.

Thank you.

On the DHS shelters and the discrimination when it comes to people with disabilities,

Could you just go a little bit more into that issue?

Yes, Chair Honey, if I'd be happy to.

So according to the city's statistics and many different sets of statistics, the majority of shelter residents who are experiencing homelessness

have some type of disability-related need that requires some type of accommodation.

Many accommodation requests that we see include air conditioning, wheelchair accessible facilities, kitchens, single rooms, emotional support animals.

It really runs the gamut.

Because of our class action, the Department of Homeless Services has developed a process for reasonable accommodation decisions.

However, we're now about nine years into the settlement agreement.

We're currently negotiating an extension of the agreement so that the city and DHS can come into compliance, but we're still seeing countless denials of reasonable accommodations every day.

Our homeless rights project receives

you know, up to, you know, five or more complaints per day on this issue.

And we're simply not able to take on every single caller who comes to us with a reasonable accommodation need in the shelter system.