File:KB Budget Testimony 2010.doc

This Word document contains the text of the 3-minute testimony Karl Bertrand made at the Westchester County Board of Legislator's budget hearings in Yonkers on November 17, 2010. A life-long advocate for the homeless, he testified in support of the proposed closing of two homeless shelters, which are no longer needed because of Westchester County's success in reducing homelessness by 55%. "Supporting a progressive agenda for helping the homeless does not mean that we need to continue funding empty shelter beds just because we needed them 20 years ago. In fact, the progressive agenda for serving the homeless, as mandated by the HEARTH Act passed by Congress in 2008 and endorsed by HUD and all of the leading national homeless advocacy organizations is to move AWAY from shelters and end prolonged homelessness by concentrating resources on 1) preventing evictions and 2) rapidly rehousing people when they do become homeless....[Westchester County] has achieved this reduction by investing money in eviction prevention, mobile Care Coordination for the mentally ill, and rent supplements. We cannot afford to continue to make these wise and progressive investments in helping the homeless if we fritter away our resources by continuing to fund empty shelter beds that are no longer needed."