Clifton Williams testifies on lack of communication and grievance access

Good afternoon.

Can you press the button?

Good afternoon, council members.

My name is Clifton C.

Williams IV.

I'm a recent transplant from the mid-states of America, southern Kentucky, southern Indiana area, back to my hometown of New York.

And being within this time here, the last 10 and a half months, I have entered into the DHS system

just to basically try to see if there is within the compounds of differences within area, region, and even policy and treatment.

And I will commend New York City on basically a lot of few options because they do offer a myriad of services that many other states have no idea even exists.

They are observing the rights of people on an individual basis, even those with special and or mental handicap and or capability.

However, there is no cookie cutter program that's specifically designed to help a person transition from homelessness.

And that's something that I do agree that within the flexibility of these meetings can be addressed.

I did experience a lot of different processes.

One of the biggest ones is a lack of communication and an ability to leave grievances and or report.

directly to either the group in hand or with DHS.

I literally have three grievances within my possession back at my shelter that I had intended to turn in on March 3rd.

And I was directed in so many different directions that, to be honest with you, I figured I entered it back into my appealed.

Court case.

That is the reason why I actually filed.

And it's not because of the fact that I wanted to see any more difficulty implied upon the city, because in all honesty, that is the reason why I came back here.

Because I'm figuring if anyone would be able to show or set up a federal standard within the basic housing needs for a nationwide referendum.

It would be New York City.

So hopefully we'll see a resolve within this in the end.

Thank you so much.