AT PLACES LIKE JOB CENTERS, COULD CLIENTS USE A FRIEND?

(Article published in HWW March 2009)

If you are a New Yorker who receives public benefits like cash assistance or food stamps, you won’t be surprised by a report released by the Office of the Public Advocate. At NYC Job Centers, clients routinely suffer because of problems like long wait times, miscommunication, confusion about rules and regulations, and misplaced documents. Nearly half of the people interviewed rated their experience at HRA Job Centers as “bad” or “very bad.”

Under the Ready Access to Assistance Act (REAACT), introduced by Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum  and co-sponsored by Councilmembers Bill de Blasio and Eric Gioia, advocates would have access to New York City public benefits offices, making it easier to represent clients in their meetings with agency caseworkers and to provide them with information, as well as translation assistance.

Under REAACT, advocates would be able to reduce confusion about procedures and policies, ensure the accuracy of government agency records, support populations with special needs, and improve communication between clients and caseworkers – all at no cost to taxpayers.

Advocates were allowed into public benefits offices in the past until the Giuliani administration cut off the practice. Advocates are still allowed into the public areas of Housing Court where they routinely help New Yorkers faced with eviction and other housing problems.

Public Advocate Gotbaum introduced REAACT (Introduction 359) in 2006, and the first hearing was held before the General Welfare Committee at the end of that year. Drafted by the Brennan Center Strategic Fund, the bill, which currently has 35 New York City Council co-sponsors, would allow advocates to help New Yorkers access food stamps, cash assistance, Medicaid, child care benefits, and subsidized housing.

The REAACT bill remains in committee though it has the support of the majority of City Council members. If you have an opinion about this bill, call your City Council Representative. (Call 311 if you don’t know how to reach your representative.)