Page 126 - Impact: Collected Essays on the Threat of Economic Inequality

The NewYork City Human Resources Administration’s Role in Fighting Poverty and Income Inequality and Preventing Homelessness
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On April 17, 2015, the Impact Center for Public Interest Law at New York Law School held a symposium called “Tackling Inequality.” The symposium addressed one of the most pressing and vexing issues of our time, and the subject of this collection of essays: how to address the rapidly growing disparities of income and wealth in the United States.The efforts of the de Blasio administration in NewYork City to address economic inequality were a primary focus of the symposium, and panels included top officials of the administration as well as prominent academics, policy analysts, and nonprofit leaders. We are printing below the remarks given by NYC Human Resources Commissioner Steven Banks at the symposium about his agency’s role in addressing economic inequality in New York City.
Remarks of Steven Banks
Commissioner of the New York City Human Resources Administration
As you know—every day in all five boroughs—the City’s Human Resources Administration (“HRA”) is focused on carrying out the Mayor’s priority of fighting poverty and income inequity and preventing homelessness . With an annual budget of $9 .7 billion and a staff of 14,000, HRA provides assistance and services to some three million low-income children and adults, including:
n Economic support and social services for families and individuals through the administration of major benefit programs (cash assistance, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program benefits (food stamps), Medicaid, and Child Support Services);
n Homelessness prevention assistance; educational, vocational, and employment services; assistance for persons with disabilities; services for immigrants; civil legal aid; and disaster relief; and
n For the most vulnerable New Yorkers: HIV/AIDS Services, Adult Protective Services, Home Care, and programs for survivors of domestic violence .
HRA is about more than cash assistance; we help low-income workers stay on the job and we work to prevent homelessness . While most of the public focus tends to be on how many people receive cash assistance, it is important to note that a large number of the New Yorkers receiving some assistance from HRA are already working and that HRA’s support helps them remain in the workforce . Living in a very expensive city, low-income workers, who are generally struggling to begin with, can be derailed by a variety of emergencies and unexpected expenses . Among other assistance, HRA provides these key work supports:
n 2 .5 million New Yorkers receive Medicaid through HRA, and tens of thousands more through the new State health insurance exchange;
n 1 .7 million New Yorkers receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (“SNAP”) food assistance and millions of meals served through food panties and community kitchens;
n 700,000 New Yorkers receive home energy assistance every winter; and
n 100,000 New Yorkers receive one-time cash assistance each year to prevent evictions and utility
shutoffs or provide assistance with other emergencies .
Impact: Collected Essays on the Threat of Economic Inequality